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LIHKAKY 

OF  T1IK 

University  of  California. 


OI  KT  OK 


'Received       iA^cco/         ,  i8gS~~ 
Accessions  NoSff^-a7'-  "  Class  No.  frFS S  ... 

^33 


A  STUDY 


Language  of  Scottish  Prose 


BEFORE  1600 


A  DISSERTATION 

PRESENTED  TO  THE  BOARD  OF  UNIVERSITY  STUDIES  OF 

THE  JOHNS  HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY  FOR  THE 

DEGREE  OF  DOCTOR  OF  PHILOSOPHY. 


BY 


WILLIAM   PETERS  REEVES. 


BALTIMORE: 

JOHN    MURPHY    &   CO 

1893. 


A  STUDY 


IN    THE 


Language  of  Scottish  Prose 


BEFORE  1600 


A  DISSERTATION 

PRESENTED  TO  THE  BOARD   OF  UNIVERSITY  STUDIES   OF 

THE   JOHNS    HOPKINS    UNIVERSITY    FOR    THE 

DEGREE   OF  DOCTOR   OF   PHILOSOPHY. 


BY 


WILLIAM   PETERS  REEVES. 


BALTIMORE: 

JOHN    MURPHY   &    CO 

1893. 


wtr 


TOT 'axotf 

fQ -        -        -       -    'AHavnoonaig 

IS 'ayivKvaf)  no  sxavKa'jj  'ija 

18 'STJMOA    5IHX  aO   AOCriONOHJ    "JA 

§9  'sx<iihosqk:vj\[    a 

99 'asoHj  ciaxNraj  xsannvg  'A  I 

15 'ani  ao  asmg  aHj,  •Ju 

88 'HON3Hj[   3HX   KOHa  SJtfOIXVrISKVHX    'II 

6  - 'xHarcvnavj  iioxoos  hhx  ao  sxoy   -j 

8 'KOixonaoHXNx 


•XOVd 


"S1N31N03 


4        A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

that    the   volume   was    not    only   soon   superseded,   but   that   it 
was  suppressed.1 

The  first  authoritative  edition  of  the  ' Acts'  was  edited  by  Thomas 
Thomson,2  Curator  of  the  General  Eegister  House.  This  formed 
Yol.  II,  comprising  the  years  1424-1567.  Volume  I,  re-edited  and 
with  a  preface  by  Cosmo  Innes,  was  printed  by  command  of  Queen 
Victoria  in  1844,  and  embraced  the  years  1124-1423.  The  Preface 
to  Vol.  I  contains  valuable  information  regarding  the  Records,  for 
which  he  fixed  the  beginnings  as  follows :  "  There  is  probably  no 
Scotch  writing  extant,  whether  of  Charter,  Eecord  or  Chronicle,  so 
old  as  the  reign  of  Malcolm  Canmore,  who  died  in  the  year  1093 
(The  Charter  of  Duncan  at  Durham  is  not  free  from  suspicion.  The 

1  The  '  Observations '  deserve  to  be  quoted,  in  part. 

"With  modern  print  to  intermix  the  abbreviations  of  ancient  manuscripts, 
appears  unseemly  and  incongruous.  To  print  in  that  manner,  while  it  conveys 
no  distinct  idea  of  the  character  or  mode  of  writing  employed  in  the  original, 
unavoidably  creates  additional  and  unnecessary  difficulties  to  readers  not  con- 
versant in  the  language  of  remote  times,  who  will  often  be  sufficiently  puzzled 
without  such  artificial  obscurity.  The  words  therefore  in  this  and  the  following 
volumes  of  the  Records  .  .  .  will  be  found  printed  at  full  length ;  the  contracted 
syllables  in  the  Eecord  being  spelt  like  the  same  syllables  when  fully  written 
out  in  the  passages  nearest  to  those  in  which  they  are  found  contracted.  ...  It 
may  be  remarked  that  the  engrossers  of  the  more  early  Parliamentary  Eecords 
of  Scotland,  like  their  contemporaries  in  the  other  nations  of  Europe,  are,  when 
writing  their  vernacular  language,  far  from  being  uniform  in  their  orthography. 
The  same  word  is  often  spelt  differently  in  the  same  page,  sometimes  even  in  the 
same  line  .  .  .  they  are  extremely  sparing  in  the  use  of  points  and  by  no  means 
correct  in  placing  the  few  they  employ  .  .  .  the  letters  c  and  t  are  in  most  words 
written  so  exactly  alike  that  the  acutest  eye  cannot  distinguish  the  one  from 
the  other.  .  .  .  And  finally,  like  the  transcribers  of  all  ages  and  nations,  they 
frequently  commit  blunders.  .  .  .  THE  Editor,  thinking  it  his  duty  to  give  a 
faithful  copy  of  the  Records  of  the  Parliament  of  Scotland,  will  neither  alter 
nor  supply,  nor  suppress  a  single  letter.  Where  the  blunder  is  obvious,  every 
reader  can  correct  it  for  himself ;  where  there  is  any  degree  of  obscurity  it  seems 
better  that  the  reader  should  in  the  correction  exercise  his  own  private  judg- 
ment, than  submit  to  the  conjectures  of  any  Editor  whatever."    "  W.  R." 

This  volume  was  thus  described  by  the  editor  of  the  standard  edition  of  the 
Acts.  "See  in  1804,  an  untrustworthy  book  published  by  his  Majesty's  Printer 
in  Scotland,  'The  Parliamentary  Records  of  Scotland  in  the  General  Register 
House,  Edinburgh,'  and  which  professed  to  give  those  records  from  the  year 
1240  to  1571.  Suppressed  by  Royal  Commission."  Innes,  Introd.  to  Vol.  I,  Acts 
Sc.  Par. 

2C.  Innes,  Scotch  Legal  Antiquities,  pp.  11-12. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.        5 

earliest  undoubted  writings  of  Scotland  are  the  Charters  of  Edgar, 
which  are  also  preserved  among  the  Coldingham  Charters  of  Dur- 
ham)." Although  Wyntoun  had  mentioned  the  Parliament  of  1286, 
Innes  thought  that  the  "  Parliament  assembled  by  John  Balliol  at 
Scone  on  the  9th  day  of  February,  1292,  was  probably  the  first  of 
the  national  councils  of  Scotland  which  bore  that  name  in  the  country 
at  the  time,  although  later  historians  have  bestowed  it  freely  on  all 
assemblies  of  a  legislative  character."  We  know  certainly  that 
"BallioPs  treaty  with  France  was  confirmed  at  Dumferline,  23  Feb- 
ruary, 1295."  x 

On  the  Records  themselves,  Innes  says  :  "  The  loss  or  destruction 
of  the  far  greater  part  of  the  original  public  documents  of  Scotland 
is  a  fact  as  to  which  unhappily  there  can  be  no  doubt,  and  which 
has  been  often  the  subject  of  just  and  deep  lamentation.  That  the 
whole  of  the  Public  Records  and  National  Muniments  preserved  in 
the  Royal  Archives  of  Scotland  at  the  death  of  King  Alexander  III 
were  swept  away  by  the  hostile  policy  of  Edward  I  we  know  from 
authentic  evidence.  Of  the  intentional  destruction  of  any  of  them 
there  is  certainly  no  evidence ;  and  from  the  few  which  yet  remain 
in  the  Chapter  House  at  Westminster  [1844],  it  seems  more  probable 
that  the  rest  have  perished  by  neglect  and  the  gradual  ravages  of 
time.  That  any  of  them  were  restored  to  Scotland,  after  the  expul- 
sion of  Balliol,  seems  improbable ;  and  the  only  reason  for  doubt  on 
this  head  is  to  be  found  in  the  Treaty  of  Peace  concluded  between 
the  kingdoms  in  1 328,  commonly  called  the  Treaty  of  Northampton. 
It  was  one  of  the  articles  of  that  Treaty  '  That  all  writings,  obliga- 
tions, instruments  and  other  muniments  touching  the  subjection  of 
the  people  and  country  of  Scotland  to  the  King  of  England,  together 
with  all  other  instruments  and  privileges  touching  the  freedom  of 
Scotland  which  might  be  discovered,  should  be  given  up  and  restored 
to  the  King  of  Scots  as  soon  as  they  could  be  found,  according  to  a 
special  Indenture  or  Inventory  thereof/  These  formed,  perhaps, 
the  most  interesting  class  of  the  National  Records,  yet  they  certainly 
were  but  a  small  part  of  what  Edward  I  had  taken  possession  of; 
and,  if  the  other  classes  of  Records  were  still  in  the  hands  of  the 
English,  it  seems  strange  and  unaccountable  that  their  restoration 

1  Innes,  Introd.  Acts,  V;  also  'Origines  Parliamentarise.'     Scotch  Leg.  Antiq., 
pp.  98-106,  119. 


*& 


6        A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

should  not  likewise  have  been  made  a  condition  of  the  Treaty.  Cer- 
tain it  is  that  none  of  the  Eecords  carried  away  by  Edward  I  are 
now  to  be  found  in  Scotland."     Acts,  Vol.  I,  p.  18. 

It  may  be  convenient,  in  accounting  for  this  loss,  to  refer  to  the 
old  story  that  several  hogsheads  of  Records  were  lost  at  sea,  while 
being  returned  to  Scotland.  Other  Records  which  were  in  the 
Tower  early  in  this  century  were  afterwards' sent  to  the  Public 
Record  Office,  where  some  search  failed  to  discover  anything  of 
importance.  The  inference  is  that  at  this  time  they  are  in  the 
General  Register  House,  Edinburgh.1 

Whatever  were  the  origin  of  the  early  laws,  it  is  learned  that 
they  had  some  resemblance  to  a  Code  in  the  year  1425,  for  on  the 
11th  of  March  at  Perth,  the  following  Act  of  Parliament  was 
passed.  "  Item  it  is  sene  spedfull  and  ordanit  be  ]?e  king  &  the 
parliament  J?at  sex  wise  &  discrete  men  of  ilk  ane  of  the  thre  estatis 
]>e  quhilkis  knawis  J?e  lawis  best  salbe  chosyn  quha  sen  fraude  & 
gyll  aw  to  keep  no  man  false  <fe  examyn  J>e  bukis  of  law  J>at  is  to 
say  regiam  maiestatem  &  quoniam  attachiamenta  &  mend  ]>e  lawis 
at  nedis  mendment  ande  ordane  als  at  all  lauchfull  exceptiounis  of 
law  be  admittit  in  jugement  &  all  freuolus  &  fraudfull  exceptiounis 
be  repellit  &  nocht  admittit  be  no  Juge  swa  J?at  ]>e  causis  letigiouss 
&  pleyis  be  nocht  wrangwisly  prolongyt  in  scaith  &  preiudice  of  ]>e 
party  &  in  fraude  of  the  law."     Reg.  Sc.  Par.,  p.  61,  col.  2.2 

The  question  of  printing  the  Records  arose  in  due  time.  In 
the  year  1469  (James  III,  Nov.  20th)  an  act  had  been  passed, 
aiming  at  the  better  preservation  of  the  Records;  "That  J?e 
kingis  rollis  and  regesteris  be  put  in  bukkis  'Item  it  is  thocht 
expedient  J?at  j?e  kingis  rollis  and  regesteris  be  put  in  bukis 
ande  haif  sik  strenthe  as  J?e  rollis  had  befor.'"  Rec.  Sc.  Par., 
p.  52,  col.  I.  In  the  succeeding  reign  of  James  IV  the  impor- 
tant plan  was  conceived  for  giving  publicity  not  only  to  the  Laws 

1 A  short  description  of  those  documents  which  were  in  the  Gen'l  Reg.  House, 
available  in  1796,  will  be  found  in  the  appendix  No.  XXIII  to  Pinkerton's 
Pistory  of  Scotland,  Vol.  I. 

2  It  will  be  seen  that  in  spite  of  the  suppression  of  this  volume  of  the  'Eecords' 
I  have  made  extensive  use  of  it.  The  copy,  which  contains  Thomas  Thomson's 
markings  for  his  new  edition,  is  in  my  possession ;  and  judging  by'the  few  correc- 
tions and  by  the  consistency  with  which  he  has  evidently  compared  this  copy 
with  the  originals,  I  have  no  hesitancy  in  quoting  from  the  contents. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.        7 

of  the  kingdom,  but  also  to  the  Historical  monuments  and  Eccle- 
siastical Rituals.  "In  the  year  1507  the  art  of  Printing  was 
introduced  into  Scotland  by  Royal  sanction,  avowedly  for  the  pur- 
pose of  '  emprenting  within  our  Realme  the  Bukis  of  the  Lawis, 
actis  of  Parliament,  croniclis,  mess  bukis/  &c,  and  exclusive 
privileges  were  conferred  upon  the  first  printers  for  encouragement 
and  support  in  the  execution  of  these  national  works.  This  was 
not  however  sufficient  for  the  publication  of  the  Acts  of  Parliament, 
and  it  was  not  until  1541  that  any  part  of  the  Scotch  Statue  Book 
appeared  in  print.  A  selection  from  the  Acts  of  several  Parlia- 
ments of  James V  was  then  published  by  legislative  authority ;  and 
at  the  distance  of  twenty-four  years  this  was  followed  in  1565  by 
the  publication  of  the  Acts  of  a  Parliament  of  Queen  Mary."  Innes, 
Introd.  Acts,  p.  22,  and  v.  Annals  Scottish  Printing,  pp.  109-118. 
The  confusing  number  of  editions  which  appeared  after  this  last 
date,  under  the  various  titles  of  '  Regiam  Majestatem/  '  Quoniam 
Attachiamenta/  'The  Acts  and  the  Old  Laws/  &c,  may  be  well 
left  unconsidered. 

The  Manuscripts  from  which  Thomson  and  Innes  made  their 
editions,  were  carefully  described  in  their  Introductions.  Many  of 
course  are  in  the  Latin,  and  it  may  be  well  to  give  a  list  of  those 
containing  vernacular  versions.  The  MSS.  referred  to  here  have 
the  same  roman  numbering  which  was  used  by  T.  and  I. 

No.  IV .  The  so-called  '  Bute ?  MS.  Marquis  of  Bute,  proprietor, 
written  probably  in  the  latter  half  of  the  14th  Cen.  Cap.  13,  two 
Scotch  chapters :  '  Chalynge  of  transgressioun  and  }?e  fourme  to  mak 
clepe  and  call  upon  brekyng  of  proteccyon/  fol.  141.  Cap.  19, 
Burgh  Laws,  fol.  153-163.  Cap.  22,  The  'Assise  of  Brede/  etc., 
fol.  167-170.  a)  'of  Custum/  fol.  170-171.  b)  'of  Law  and  the 
Custume  of  Schippis/  fol.  171-174.  c)  'of  wecht  in  flandrys  and 
reknyns  be  the  price  of  the  mone/  fol.  175. 

No.  VII.  Edinburgh  University  MS.,  not  long  after  1389,  or 
early  15th  Cen. ;  Latin  except  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  styles 
and  forms  of  process  in  Scotch  and  Latin,  fol.  102-111. 

No.  IX.  Advocates'  Library  MS.,  W,  4,  ult.,  "  nearly  all  in 
Scotch,  and  is  written  in  an  unique  hand,  to  within  a  few  leaves 
of  the  end."     Undated. 


8        A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

No.  X.  The  Harleian  MS.,  4700.  Early  15th  Cen.  Cap.  4,  2 
leaves  in  Scotch,  'the  maneir  of  Batall  within  lists.'  Cap.  14,  'The 
poyntis  belangand  to  the  Warden  Courts.'  Cap.  16,  Lawis  and  Cus- 
tumis  of  the  Schippis,  8  leaves.  Cap.  15,  Miscellany:  Latin  and 
Scotch.  Cap.  28,  one  leaf  in  Scotch,  '  on  laufulnes  of  tailzies ' :  also 
cap's  31,  32  (3  leaves),  34  (17  leaves). 

No.  XII.  Cambridge  MS.,  Public  Library,  Cambridge  E,  4,  21, 
Late  15th  Cen.,  uniform  hand.  Cap.  18, 14  leaves  Cap.  19,  lawis 
and  Custumis  of  Schippis  (33  chapters). 

No.  XIII.  The  Cockburn  MS.  Advocates'  Library,  W,  4,  28,  or 
"W,  4,  penult.  Cap.  4,  2  parts  by  different  scribes ;  late  15th  Cen. 
Cap.  10,  statuta  Regis  Dav.  primi,  in  Scotch;  20  titles.  Cap.  11, 
fol.  90-92.  Cap.  12,  fol.  93-99.  Cap.  16,  fol.  1-20  of  second  part ; 
Borowe  Laws,  fol.  20-24,  28-38,  38-40. 

No.  XIV.  Advocates'  Library  MS.,  A,  I,  32;  late  15th  Cen., 
all  Scotch. 

No.  XV.  The  Monynet  MS.,  Adv.  Libr.,  A,  1,  28,  written  by 
James  Monynet,  1488.  Cap.  19,  pe  poyntis  belangande  to  j?e  ward- 
ane  courte,  fol.  203.  Cap.  21,  Law  and  Custumis  of  the  Schippis, 
fol.  205-216.  Cap.  24,  On  Tailzie,  fol.  319 ;  also  fols.  342-353, 
365-371,  371-373,  375-378,  400. 

No.  XVI.  Colvil  MS., '  now  [1844]  owned  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Macon- 
ochie ;  v.  Bibliography, '  Regiam  Majestatem.'  Cap.  15, '  The  gret 
lawis  maid  thro  King  Davyd ;  20  chapters.  Cap.  16,  Lawis  of 
King  "William;  11  titles.     Cap.  17,  Lawis  of  King  Alexander. 

No.  XVII.  Cambridge  MS.,  K,  I,  5.  Public  Library  Camb., 
4°  thick ;  tracts  and  MSS.  Part  3rd,  Scotch  laws,  '  written  in  a 
careless  hand;  late  15th  or  beginning  of  the  16  th  Cen.' 

No.  XVIII.  John  Bannatyne  MS.  Adv.  Libr.,  A,  7,  25,  written 
by  John  Bannatyne,  1520.  Cap.  3, '  Maner  of  battale  within  lists ; 
11  titles.  Cap.  17,  7  oaths.  Cap.  20,  'laws  and  custumis  of  schippis.' 
Cap.  22,  On  Taillie  (Scotch  and  Latin). 

No.  XIX.  Lambeth  MS.,  Lambeth  Palace  Library,  No.  167 ; 
early  16th  Cen.  Cap.  17,  The  process  of  the  again  calling  of  a 
dome;  fols.  178-189,  190-2,  192-208. 

No.  XXI.  Thomas  Bannatyne  MS.,  Adv.  Libr.,  Jac.  V,  6, 
13  (old  numbering);  latter  half  16th  Cen.  Cap.  15,  'How 
the    batall   within    listis   salbe    gouernit;    10    titles   in   Scotch. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.        9 

Cap.  18,  'Acts  of  the  Parliament  holdin  at  Edinburgh  the  thrid 
day  of  December.' 

No.  XXII.  Malcolm  MS.,  Adv.  Libr.,  A,  3,  22  fol. ;  late  16th 
Cen. ;  a  large  part  in  Scotch.  The  rest  of  the  twenty-five  MSS. 
noted  by  T.  and  I.  are  in  Latin. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  two  first  volumes  of  the  Acts 
were  selected  to  show  the  character  of  the  language;  regard  has 
therefore  been  had  for  variety  in  vocabulary  and  grammatical  forms. 
The  nature  of  the  material  would  of  itself  suggest  much  repetition 
and  a  general  neglect  of  literary  quality. 


I. 

Acts  of  the  Scotch  Parliament  (v.  Scottish  Record 
Pub.  in  Bibliography). 

Heir  begynnis  the  lawys  of  the  King  David 

I.  of  hym  }>at  eschapis  of  )>e  gallowys 

Gif  ony  mysdoar  thruch  dome  be  hingit  and  eftirwart  he  eschapis 
of  ]>e  gallowis  he  sal  be  quyt  as  of  J?at  deid  fra  thin  furth  And  J?ai 
J;at  hingit  hym  sal  mak  fine  wyth  ]>e  kyng  saufand  ]>aim  lyf  and 
memberis  and  disherisone  for  quhi  that  trespas  is  mekil  and  oure 
mesur. 

II.  of  ony  appelyt  of  thy  ft  (de  appelato  de  furto) 

Gi  f  ony  appelis  ony  man  in  ]>e  kyngis  court  or  in  ony  ojur  court 
of  thyft  it  sal  be  in  j?e  likyng  of  hym  at  beis  appelyt  quhejnr  he 
wil  bataile  or  to  tak  purgacioun  of  xii  leil  men  with  clengyng  of 
a  hyrdman. 

III.  of  herberyng  of  strange  men  (de  advenis  hospitandis) 

It  is  lefful  to  na  man  to  herbery  na  strangear  langar  pan  a  nycht 
na  hald  hym  in  his  house  wythoutin  borch  and  gif  ony  forsuth 
bydis  in  a  toun  oure  a  nycht  he  sal  be  brocht  befor  ]>e  justice  or  J?e 
schireff  and  be  at  par  wil. 

IV.  How  jugment  sal  be  geyffin. 

pe  kyng  hes  statut  pat  na  justice  schireff  alderman  na  bailee  of 
ony  baroun  sal  sit  at  jugement  to  be  done  apone  pe  folowyng  or  pe 
ansuer  befor  paim  to  be  maid  bot  quhen  sic  cumis  to  jugement  he 
sal  pas  furth  of  pe  court  parapone  and  pan  pe  iustice  schireff  or 


10      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600, 

bailee  agane  callit  J?e  iugement  be  ]>e  soytoris  maid  sal  geyffin 
furth. 

V.  How  J>at  a  peir  aw  to  be  jugit  allanerly  be  his  peir  (quod  par 
per  parem  iudicabitur) 

pe  kyng  hes  statut  alsa  J>at  na  man  aw  to  thol  iugement  fra  a 
less  persoun  J;an  fra  his  peir  J>at  is  to  say  an  erl  be  erlis  baroun  be 
barounis  vavassour  be  vavassour  burges  be  burges  bot  a  les  persoun 
may  be  jugit  be  a  mar  persoun  and  nocht  a  mar  be  a  les  persoun. 

VIII.  of  challange  thruch  quhilk  bataile  may  be  raysit  (de  appel- 
lacione  unde  duellum  possit  oriri) 

Gif  ony  man  appelis  anoJ>ir  of  thyft  or  of  reff  or  of  ony  trespas 
thruch  J?e  quhilk  bataile  may  ryse  say  and  in  his  folowyng  J;at  J>e 
deffendour  hes  done  hym  sic  schame  to  ]>e  valur  of  xx  merkis 
wyth  J>e  scath  that  he  hes  tane  J>e  party  deffendour  quhen  he  cumis 
to  bataile  sal  not  put  his  weddis  for  ]?e  price  of  ]>e  schame  of  J?e 
folowar  bot  allanerly  he  sal  put  his  weddis  eftir  the  assyse  of  J?e 
kynrik  to  ]>e  valur  of  ]>e  scath  ]?at  ]?e  folowar  sais  hym  til  haf  tane 
And  it  is  to  wyt  )>at  in  ]?e  folowyng  of  reff  or  of  byrnyng  |?e  party 
deffendour  aw  nocht  to  put  his  weddis  bot  allanerly  for  sua  mekil 
als  ony  man  sais  him  scathit  In  J?e  folowyng  of  thyft  \q  scath  of 
}>e  folowar  aw  to  be  somyt  thrynfalde  sa  J>at  ]?e  body  of  ]>e  deffen- 
dour aw  to  doubillit  ]>e  quhilk  mone  J?e  party  askand  aw  til  haf 
wyth  him  gif  J>e  party  deffendour  be  slayn  and  his  body  sal  remane 
in  J>e  place  for  ];e  thridpart  of  J?e  mone 

X.  of  ]>e  schireffis  and  J?ar  seriandis  (de  vice  comitibus  et  eorum 
servientibus) 

Na  schireff  or  ]>e  seriand  of  ]>e  schireff  sal  entermet  )?aim  of  ony 
thing  pertenand  to  J>e  kyngis  proffyt  utouth  ];ar  schirefdome  of 
somondis  or  of  attachments  aw  to  suer  in  the  plane  schirefdome 
J?at  ]?ai  sal  leilly  serve  J?e  kyug  in  J>ar  awin  schirefdome  and  )>at  \e 
men  duelland  wythin  J>e  schirefdome  wranguisly  J>ai  sal  not  vex. 

XI.  of  |;aim  );at  ar  appelyt  be  J;e  kyng  of  felony  (de  appel.  regis 
de  felonia) 

Gif  it  hapnis  J>e  kyng  til  appel  ony  man  of  felony  or  of  lyf  or  of 
membris  he  sal  clenge  him  anent  ]>e  kyng  be  ]>e  athis  of  [xxiiii] 
leil  men  of  ]?at  schirefdome  quhar  it  is  said  J?at  trespas  to  be  maid 
And  gif  forsuth  be  )>e  athis  of  )>aim  ]?ai  acquyt  him  he  sal  be  quyt 
or  ellis  ]?ar  sal  pas  of  him  rycht  jugement  gif  he  be  nocht  maid  quyt 
And  gif  ];e  kyng  folowys  ony  man  of  ony  o)?ir  iniure  he  sal  clenge 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      11 

hym  anent  pe  kyng  be  pe  athis  of  xxiiii  leil  men  or  ellis  he  sal 
satisfie  pe  kyng  eftir  his  folowyng 

XVI.  of  selling  of  theyffis  and  of  yaim  yat  eschapis 

pe  Kyng  David  hes  ordanyt  pat  na  man  sell  a  theyff  of  thyft 
pruffyt  for  na  mone  na  for  na  frenschip  na  for  na  maner  of  meyd 
And  gif  an  erl  dois  it  or  ony  opir  pat  hes  pe  fredome  and  custum 
of  an  erl  he  sal  pay  to  pe  king  for  amercyment  xxxiiii  ky  And 
gif  ony  brekis  pis  lawe  agayn  he  sal  pay  lc  ky  to  pe  kyng  And  pe 
theyff  sal  be  outlawyt  thruch  all  pe  kyngis  land  and  gif  he  may  be 
eftirwartis  gottyn  pe  lawe  sal  be  done  apon  hym  farthwyth  eftir  pe 
maner  of  sic  trespas  And  gif  he  be  put  in  boys  or  in  fetteris  and 
aventur  fall  pat  he  eschapis  out  of  pat  ilk  ward  pe  lord  of  pat 
prisoun  pe  theyff  eschapis  out  sal  acquit  hym  anent  pe  kyng  with 
xxvii  leil  men  and  thre  thanys  pat  he  nocht  wyst  of  pe  passing  out 
of  pat  theyff  na  consent  parto  gayff  na  consal  And  sa  sal  pe  lord 
gang  quyt  at  pat  tym. 

XXXII.  of  paim  con vy kit  of  mansuorn  (periurio) 

Quhasa  evir  is  enchessonyt  of  fals  wytnes  beryng  in  pe  contrare 
of  ony  sakles  man  for  lufrent  or  hatrent  and  hes  suorn  apon  pe 
haly  evangel  or  apon  pe  haly  cystre  or  opir  notabill  halydum  he 
sal  be  put  out  fra  al  confort  and  company  of  cristyn  men  quhil  pat 
he  haf  mad  assith  befor  god  eftir  pe  dome  of  schryffand  for  man- 
suorn and  haf  geyffin  into  pe  kyngis  amendis  viij  ky  and  fra  pin 
furth  he  salbe  put  fra  al  pruff  and  wytnes  and  be  nevir  holdyn  as 
man  bot  as  unman. 

Leges  quatuor  Burgorum  (Berewic,  Eokisburg,  Edinburgh,  Striv- 
elin)  Mayd  and  ordanyt  be  the  Kyng  David. 

(It  will  be  seen  from  the  collateral  law-latin  forms  that  the  in- 
fluences of  the  two  languages  upon  each  other  have  been  at  times 
reciprocal.) 

I.  of  pe  Kyngis  rent  in  borowagis  (de  redditibus  domini  regis  in 
burgagiis.)  In  pe  fyrst  quhat  is  pe  rent  of  oure  lorde  pe  kyng  in 
borowagis  pat  is  to  say  pat  ilke  burges  sail  geyff  to  pe  Kyng  for  his 
borowage  at  he  deffendis  for  ilke  rud  of  land  v$  be  yhere. 

V.  of  thingis  lente  be  a  burges  man  tyl  ane  uplandis  man  Gif  a 
burges  hafe  lent  of  his  catallis  tyll  hym  pat  wonnys  out  of  pe  burgh 
gyf  pe  dettur  grauntis  pe  dett  he  sail  jelde  it  and  gif  he  nytis  it  he 
sail  parof  do  rycht  befor  pe  lawhaldaris  of  pat  ilk  burgh 


12      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

XXV.  of  stryff  muffyt  betuix  schipmen  in  burgh  (de  contencione) 
Gif  schippis  or  o)>ir  strange  kynrikis  arryfis  in  ]>e  kyngis  lande  of 
Scotlande  and  contak  ryse  betuix  J>e  partyis  of  suilk  meynje  within 
the  havyn  of  J>e  kynge  J?e  kyngis  bailjeis  sail  holde  rycht  betuen 
J?aim  of  alkyn  manere  of  querelle  ony  of  J?aim  will  pleynje  of  ojnr 
J?e  quhilk  wrang  was  amuffit  betuen  }?aim  in  ]>e  land  of  ]>e  king  of 
Scotlande  and  gif  it  sua  sail  at  J>e  challangeour  or  ]?e  defendoure  hafe 
giifyn  his  toll  and  done  to  the  kyngis  land  J?at  at  he  aw  to  do  and 
J?e  schyp  be  in  J>e  rade  wele  and  in  pes  he  sail  pas  and  ]>e  tane  of  J>e 
tojnr  sail  get  his  rycht  quhare  he  best  may 

XLI.  Of  borowage  geyffin  in  fre  mariage 

Gif  ony  man  has  takyn  a  borowage  in  fre  mariage  wyth  ony 
woman  and  gettis  wyth  hyr  a  knayff  chylde  or  a  maydyn  and 
thruch  aventure  ]?e  wyfe  deys  and  eftyr  J?e  dede  of  ]>at  modyr  hir 
son  or  hir  dochter  leyffis  or  deys  J>e  man  sail  joys  ]>e  borowage  all 
his  lyf  tyme  bot  he  may  nocht  wedsett  na  sell  it  And  gif  J?at  ilke 
nycht  at  J?at  son  or  j>at  dochtyr  be  borne  bathe  ]>e  modyr  and  ]>e 
barne  deys  )>an  sail  J>e  man  ioys  all  ]>e  gudis  of  J?at  land  in  his  lyfe 
sua  at  }>at  man  sail  have  wytnes  of  tua  leil  men  or  of  women 
nychtburis  J?at  herde  J>e  chylde  cryand  or  gretand  or  brayand  And 
sua  gif  he  haf  tane  ma  landis  wyth  his  wyfe  in  mariage  And  gif 
he  gettis  with  his  wyfe  na  chylde  ]>e  land  sail  turn  tyll  his  wyffis 
next  ayre. 

XLII.  of  landis  sauld  be  encheson  of  poverte 

Ilk  man  in  his  lege  pouste  may  sell  or  geyff  J>e  landis  }>at  he  has 
of  conquest  in  burgh  to  quham  sa  evir  he  will  Bot  gif  J?at  thruch 
nede  hym  behovys  sell  his  lande  J?at  he  has  of  heretage  he  sal  at 
the  thre  hevyd  mutis  proffyr  J?at  lande  to  J>e  next  of  J?e  ayris  And 
gif  )>aim  lykis  to  by  j?at  lande  ]>ai  sal  fynd  til  hym  at  mysteris  to 
sell  mete  and  clathis  suilk  as  beis  necessare  to  ]?aim  self  pe  clath- 
ing  sail  be  of  a  hew  grysande  or  quhyte  And  gif  J>ai  nocht  wil  do 
sua  or  ]>an  be  unpowar  may  nocht  it  sail  be  leiiful  til  hym  J?e  for- 
said  lande  as  he  best  may  speid  to  sell  And  gif  the  ayr  be  ututh  }?e 
kynrik  in  J;e  next  kynrik  he  aw  to  byde  hym  XL  dayis  And  gif 
]?at  he  be  in  a  ferrar  kynrik  next  J?at  kynrik  he  aw  to  byde  hym 
tuyis  xl  dayis  and  sua  of  ojur  ferrar  kynrikis  And  gif  J>e  ayr  be 
absent  for  will  wyl  or  malyce  langer  ];an  J?e  forsaid  termys  til  hym 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      13 

assignyt  it  sal  be  leifful  to  J?e  man  mysterand  to  dyspone  on  his 
lande  quhar  he  may  best  speid.1 

XLIII.  Gif  ony  burges  be  challangyt  of  his  land  or  of  his  tene- 
ment in  burgh  he  is  nocht  haldyn  to  ansuer  to  his  party  adversar 
foroutyn  J>e  kingis  lettyris  bot  gif  him  lykis  and  he  at  is  challangyt 
may  ryn  til  his  delayis  and  til  his  skylful  essoingeis  anys  tuyis  and 
thryis  And  J?e  ferde  tym  he  sail  cum  to  warrande  his  essoinjeis  ilke 
ane  at  he  made  as  ]>e  ordyr  of  law  will 2 

XLVI.  of  ane  castellane  and  a  burges 

Gif  ony  man  of  ]>e  castell  has  ocht  misdone  til  ony  man  of  ]>e 
burgh  he  sal  aske  lauch  at  )>e  Castell  ututh  ]>e  yhettis  And  gif  ony 
man  of  ]>e  burgh  has  ocht  misdone  til  ony  man  of  ]>e  castell  he  sal 
aske  lauch  of  hym  in  ]>e  burgh 3 

LX.  of  baxtaris  and  J?aim  ];at  sellis  fysche 

Baxtaris  at  bakis  brede  to  sell  sail  bake  quhyte  brede  and  gray 
eftir  ]>e  consideracion  and  prise  of  J?e  gud  men  of  ]>e  toune  eftir  as 
\q  sesson  askis  And  ]?e  baxtar  sail  hafe  to  wynning  of  ilke  chaldir 
eftir  as  sail  be  sene  thruch  )>e  gud  men  of  J?e  toune  and  nocht  eftir 
his  awne  discrecione  And  quha  J?at  bakis  brede  to  sell  aw  nocht 
for  to  hyde  it  bot  sett  it  in  a  wyndow  or  in  J?e  mercat  J?at  it  may  be 
opynly  sauld     And  quha  sa  dois  ojnrwayis  and  ]?airof  J>ai  be  convict 

1  Quilibet  potest  in  legitima  potestate  sua  dare  vel  vendere  terrain  quam  habet 
de  conquesta  suo  cuicunque  voluerit  sed  si  necessitate  compulsus  hereditatem 
vendere  opporteat  debet  illam  terrain  ad  tria  placita  capitalia  proximis  hereditus 
offerre  quod  si  proximi  heredes  terram  illam  emere  voluerint  inveniant  ei  neces- 
saria  scilicet  victum  et  vestitum  sicut  sibimet  ipsisVestimentum  sit  unius  coloris 
scilicet  grifii  vel  albi  quod  si  sic  facere  noluerint  aut  per  impotenciam  non  poterint 
licebit  ei  dictam  terram  prout  melius  poterit  alibi  vendere  quod  si  heres  fuerit 
extra  regnum  in  alio  regno  proximo  expectare  debet  per  xx,  dies  Si  autem  in 
secundo  regno  per  bis  xl  dies  exspectare  debet  et  sic  de  regnis  ulterioribus  Si 
autem  heres  maliciose  ultra  dictum  terminum  se  absentaverit  licebit  indigenti  de 
terra  sua  prout  melius  poterit  disponere. 

2  Si  aliquis  calumpniatus  fuerit  de  terra  vel  tenemento  suo  in  burgo  non  tenetur 
respondere  adversario  suo  sine  Uteris  domini  regis  nisi  sponte  voluerit  Et  ipse 
qui  calumpniatus  est  potest  concurre  ad  dilaciones  et  ad  racionales  essonias  semel 
secundo  et  tercio  Et  quarto  veniet  ad  warantizandum  essonias  suas  et  respondere 
ballivis  quales  sint  de  die  in  diem 

3  De  castellano  et  burgense. 

Si  aliquis  de  castello  foris  fecerit  burgensi  burgensis  petet  ius  suum  ad  castellum 
extra  portas  Si  verso  burgensis  foris  fecerit  castellano  castellanus  petet  ius  suum 
in  burgo  de  eo. 


14      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

]>ai  sail  pay  amercyment  of  viii  s.  and  J?e  brede  sail  be  delt  to  ]>e 
pur  folk  And  rycht  sa  aw  it  to  be  of  hym  J?at  bryngis  fysche  to 
sell  to  \e  burgh. 

LXXXI.  of  ]>e  maner  of  waking  in  burgh 

It  is  for  to  wyt  of  ilke  house  wythin  ]>e  burgh  in  \>e  quhilk  J>ar 
wonnys  ony  J?at  in  J>e  tym  of  wakyng  aw  of  resoun  to  cum  furth  |?ar 
sal  ane  wachman  be  holdyn  to  cum  furth  quhen  J?at  ]?e  wakstaff  gais 
fra  dure  to  dure  quha  sal  be  of  eylde  and  sal  gang  til  his  wache  wyth 
tua  wapnys  at  J>e  ryngyng  of  p>e  courfeu  and  sua  gate  sal  wache  wysly 
and  besily  til  )>e  dawyng  of  ]?e  daye  and  gif  ony  herof  failge  be  sal 
pay  iiii  d.  outtane  wedous  (viduis  exceptis). 

LXXXII.  of  playnte  of  hym  J?at  is  mayd  blaa  and  blody 

Gif  ony  man  strykis  anojnr  quhar  thruch  he  is  mayd  blaa  and 
blody  he  J?at  is  mayd  blaa  and  blody  sal  fyrst  be  herde  quhe)?ir  he 
cumys  fyrst  to  plenje  or  nocht  and  gif  }>at  bathe  be  blaa  and  blody 
he  J>at  fyrst  plenjeis  him  sal  fyrst  be  herde.1 

XC.  of  burges  }>at  aw  dette 

Gif  ane  burges  aw  dette  till  ony  man  and  at  J?e  terme  hafe  nocht 
to  pay  it  bot  his  landis  ]>e  man  J>at  ]>e  dette  is  aucht  to  sal  holde  J?e 
landis  thruch  a  yhere  and  a  daye  and  wythin  j?at  yhere  and  daye  he 
sal  peroffyr  (offerre)  J>aim  to  J>e  nerrest  ayris  And  gif  J?ai  wil  nocht 
by  ]?aim  or  ellis  outquyte  ]>e  dette  it  is  leyfull  til  hym  to  sell  )>& 
landis  quhar  he  wil  And  gif  ]?are  be  ocht  attour  it  sal  be  geyffin 
to  J?e  dettur. 

XCI.  of  fraudful  redemcion  of  landis  salde. 

Gif  a  burges  sellis  his  land  for  encheson  of  nede  wythin  J>e  burgh 
and  it  hafe  bene  befor  ]>e  sellyng  of  it  byddin  to  J>e  nerrest  of  ]>e 
frendis  J?at  tym  ]>ai  nocht  hafande  quhar  wyth  );at  ]^ai  mycht  it  by 
and  syne  eftir  quhen  ]?at  lande  is  wele  byggit  and  anournit  (terrain 
promotam  et  hospitatem)  J>an  sum  man  of  J>e  next  frendis  cummys 
wyth  a  soum  of  silver  frandfully  J?arto  borowyt  and  byddis  J>at  lande 
to  hy  he  aucht  nocht  to  be  herde  na  eftir  agane  call  ]?e  byer  of  it  on 
ony  wyse  (nee  potest  earn  aliquid  modo  revocare) 

CVII.  of  J>e  successione  of  J?e  sone  to  J>e  fadris  herytage. 

1  Si  quis  verebando  fecerit  aliquem  blaa  et  blodi  ipse  qui  fuerit  blaa  et  blodi 
prius  debet  exaudiri  Sive  priiis  venerit  aut  non  ad  qu«emoniam  faciendam  Et  si 
uterque  fuerit  blaa  et  blodi  qui  prius  accusaverit  prius  exaudietur. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      15 

Gif  it  sa  betyde  pat  ony  man  hafe  landis  oupir  of  heretage  or  of 
conquest  and  he  luf  pat  til  hym  is  ayre  sa  mekyll  pat  he  gevis  to 
pat  sone  all  his  landis  in  his  lege  pouste  And  efteruart  a  myster 
unexcusabill  (inexcusabilis  necessitas)  cumis  to  pe  forsaid  fadre  and 
he  schawis  til  pe  sone  his  myster  pe  quhilk  sone  will  nocht  do  to  pe 
fadre  na  succour  pan  may  pe  fadre  leyfully  sell  or  wed  sett  pe  landis 
quhepir  heretage  or  conquest  to  quha  sum  ever  he  will  for  his  myster 
And  suilk  nede  aw  to  be  provyt  befor  pat  pe  landis  be  salde  or 
analyt  be  pe  athis  of  XII  lele  and  worthie  men  of  pe  burgh  pat  is 
to  wyt  four  wonnande  on  pe  ta  halfe  and  four  on  pe  topir  halfe  and 
opir  foure  fare  anent  pe  house  or  ellis  pat  alienacion  sal  be  of  nane 
avale. 

Assize  Regis   Willelmi. 

XV.  of  a  man  slayn  in  pe  kingis  vengeance 

Gif  ony  man  for  thy  ft  or  for  reff  deis  be  law  of  irn  or  watir  and 
of  him  rycht  be  done  or  gif  he  wer  slayn  with  thyft  fundyn  wy th 
hym  and  efterwarte  gif  his  kyn  in  vengeance  of  hym  slew  hym  pat 
brocht  hym  to  pe  law  pe  king  sal  haf  als  fully  rycht  of  suilk  men 
slayeris  of  pe  dede  of  hym  as  of  his  pece  fullily  brokyn  withoutyn 
concord  or  relaxacioun  bot  gif  it  be  throu  pe  consail  or  pe  assent  of 
his  kyn  And  gif  it  hapin  throu  case  pat  pe  king  grantis  pece  til 
hym  pat  wes  slayn  ner  pe  les  pe  kyn  of  him  sal  tak  vengeance  of 
pam  pat  slew  par  kyn. 

XXIV.  of  land  geyffin  be  pe  king  to  his  demayne 

pe  king  hes  statut  be  pe  counsal  of  pe  communite  pat  gif  he  haiff 
gevyn  ony  man  of  pe  landis  in  his  propir  demayne  opir  extendit  be 
pe  aithis  of  leil  men  of  pe  cuntre  or  of  his  awin  wil  withoutyn  ony 
athis  be  certane  methis  and  merys  quyt  and  fre  for  evir  mar  sua  pat 
fra  pin  furth  wyth  breyff  of  pureale  na  wyth  nayn  opir  breyff  he 
may  tyn  opir  al  or  part  of  pe  sayd  land  bot  gif  it  war  throu  a  breyff 
of  rycht  And  pan  pe  king  sal  mak  til  hym  a  ressonable  chang  or 
pan  warand  pat  ilke  land  til  him.1 

1  Statuit  dominus  Rex  per  consilium  communitatis  sui  quod  si  Eex  aliquam 
terram  infra  dominicum  suum  alicui  dederit  per  extensionem  sacramenti  fidelium 
hominum  provincie  vel  de  voluntate  sua  sine  Sacramento  alicuius  et  certas  metas 
et  divisas  quietam  et  solutam  imperpetuum  ita  quod  de  cetero  neque  per  breve 
perambulacionis  neque  per  aliquod  aliud  breve  aliquam  partem  terrse  illius  amittat 
nisi  per  breve  de  recto  et  tunc  Rex  debet  ei  racionabile  excambium  facere  pro  dicta 
terra  vel  ei  ipsam  terram  warantizare. 


16      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Acta  Regis  Alex.  Ill,  appendix  II  (p.  431). 

Statuta  gilde.  XIII.  off  J>e  dogter  of  ]>e  gyld  bru)?er 

Gif  ]?at  ony  of  ]>e  brewer  of  J>e  gyld  efter  his  desces  leyff  a  dogter 
off  his  spousit  wyff  borne  |>e  quhilk  be  of  loffabil  conuersacione  and 
of  gud  fame  geyff  scho  has  noght  of  hir  awin  quhar  of  it  may  be 
purwayt  hir  of  a  man  [or  of  a  religiouse  house  gif  that  scho  lyk  to 
lef  chast]  efter  J?e  estimacioun  of  J>e  alderman  and  \e  faculte  of  ]>e 
gilde  it  salbe  purwayt  til  hir  of  a  husband  or  J?an  a  hous  of  relygione. 

XIV.  Gif  ony  of  |?e  breder  of  J>e  gilde  hapyn  to  disses  and  has 
not  to  bring  him  to  ]>e  erde  as  afferis  or  to  ger  sing  for  his  saule  J?e 
breder  sal  tak  of  J?e  faculteis  of  J?e  gilde  and  ger  his  bodye  be  honestly 
layd  in  erde. 

French  is  frequently  found  in  Records,  especially  in  Acta  Mar- 
garet, 1289 ;  Robert  I  (1308),  Berwic,  1323, 1327;  Edward  Balliol, 
Edinburgh,  1333,  Feb.  xii;  David  II,  1357,  1363-64,  and  Inden- 
ture of  1367  made  at  Berwyk,  v.  Appendix  II  to  David  IPs  Acts; 
Robert  II,  July  1,  1385.  See  also  in  the  Reg.  Scot.  Par.,  pp.  84, 
85,  90  seq.,  98,  102,  103,  107,  116  (of  the  year  1369),  119,  1371 ; 
120,  122,  123,  from  the  French  King  Charles,  123;  Robert  II, 
1371;  126,  1372;  130,  1374;  131,  1383;  132,  1383;  135  Robert, 
1385  (compact  with  the  French)  ;  136,  Robt.,  1390  ;  Charles,  1406. 

In  the  following  the  contractions  are  expanded  in  italics.  The 
remarks  on  MS.  symbols  of  contraction,  in  Morris  and  Skeat's 
Specimens,  pt.  I,  p.  xx,  II,  p.  xv,  and  in  Horstmann :  Barbour's 
Legendensammlung,  II,  pp.  305,  306,  cover  all  the  ordinary  pecu- 
liarities of  Scottish  paleography. 

Acta  Robert  III,  Stirling,  1397 

Item  in  J?e  consail  general  of  stn/velyn  seyn  and  consideryt  J?e 
grete  and  horrible  destruccwn  heryschippis  brym/ng/s  and  slach- 
tem  \at  ar  sa  commonly  done  throch  al  ]>e  kynrike  It  is  statutit 
and  ordanyt  with  assent  of  )?e  thre  communates  J?ar  beande  J>at  ilke 
schiref  of  J?e  kynrike  sal  publy  ger  crye  \at  na  man  rydand  or 
gangande  in  J?e  contre  lede  mar  persons  with  hym  bot  ]?aim  ]?at  he 
wil  mak  ful  payment  for  Ande  J?at  na  man  vse  lik  destrucc/ons 
slachtir  Reif  na  bryning  m  tyme  tocum  under  payn  of  tynsale  of 
life  and  gudis  pe  quhilke  crye  made  ilke  schiref  sal  tak  diligent 
enquerres  gif  ony  be  comon  destroyem  of  J?e  contre  |  and  o)>er  der- 
struys  or  has  destruyt  ]>e  kyngis  legis  with  herschippis  slachtis 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      17 

bry?iing  or  ettyng  of  pe  cofitre.  And  gif  ony  be  fundyn  be  enquerre 
of  sic  trespassoum  pe  schiref  sal  do  al  his  besines  til  arest  paim  and 
he  sal  lat  paim  to  borch  til  appef  at  pe  next  iustice  air  as  day  prc- 
emptor  |  like  ane  vnder  pe  payn  of  xx  pofide.  And  he  pat  apperis 
nocht  at  pe  next  iustice  air  sal  be  at  pe  home  and  his  borous  sal 
pay  the  payn  and  mak  affecht  to  pe  party  pleygnand  |  and  gif  ony 
be  pat  may  nocht  fynde  sic  borows  pe  schiref  richt  pen  sal  gif 
knaulage  of  assise  |  and  gif  he  be  taynt  with  pe  assise  for  sic  a  tres- 
passouf  I  he  sal  be  condampnit  to  pe  deid  And  gif  ony  of  pa  mis- 
doem  fleys  out  of  a  schirefdom  in  ane  oper  |  pe  schiref  pat  he  fleis 
fra  sal  write  in  quhais  schirefdome  he  is  reset  |  byddand  hym  on  pe 
kyngis  hehalfe  pat  he  arrest  sic  a  fugitive  mysdoer  and  send  hym 
til  hym  agayn  To  pe  quhilk  bydding  pe  schiref  sal  be  haldin  til 
obese  |  and  to  sende  hym  agayn  |  pe  qwhilk  send  agayn  |  pe  schiref 
pat  he  is  send  to  sal  procede  in  pe  manef  beforsaid.  And  in  pe 
samyn  maner  sal  al  lordis  and  officem  of  regalites  ansuef  to  pe 
schirefis  le^res  and  pe  schiref  to  pair  leltres  as  to  pe  arrestyng  of 
pe  fugitives  In  pe  execucion  of  pe  quhilkis  arrestis  al  barofis  fre- 
holdam  and  al  oper  pe  kyngis  legis  sal  helpe  and  suppouvel  pe 
schiref  and  al  oper  officem  of  pe  kyngis  at  al  pair  pouer  alswele 
agayfl  pair  awyn  men  and  retenwis  as  agayn  oper  And  gif  ony  be 
fundyn  sautif  in  pat  poynt  pat  he  risis  nocht  with  pe  kyngis  officem 
as  is  beforsaid  and  pat  may  be  prouit  before  pe  Justice  opir  with 
witness  or  with  assise  he  sal  pay  x  pound  to  pe  kyng  without  remis- 
sioii.  Apon  per  articles  pe  Justice  in  ilke  iustice  air  sal  tak  knaw- 
lage  I  als  apon  schirefis  gif  pai  do  deuly  pair  det  to  pair  offic  in  pe 
execucion  of  pis  statut  as  upon  al  oper  pat  suppouel  nocht  pe  kyngis 
minstem  in  pe  maner  beforsaid.  And  it  is  ordanyt  pat  pe  chan- 
celler  sal  write  precepm  of  pis  statut  til  al  schirefis  Justices  in  als 
fer  as  in  paim  is  and  con  ...  or  pertenis  to  paim. 

James  I,  Acta,  1417. 

at  Perth,  General  Council,  June  XXVI. 

Robert  duyc  of  Albany  erle  of  fy fe  and  of  menteth  and  gouvern- 
our  of  Scotland  to  pe  schirefis  of  Aberden  and  of  banf  gretyng.  Our 
wil  is  pat  yhe  wit  pat  we  tretande  with  ony  of  my  lorde  pe  kingz's 
liegis  for  pair  relesis  and  accordande  with  paim  for  certane  soume  or 
forgifande  paim  and  relesand  pair  releif  of  gifand  selland  or  acordand 
with  ony  of  pe  kyngis  legis  for  ony  warde  or  mariage  or  ony  profite 
2 


18      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

falland  to  J>e  kyng.  J>at  it  is  nocht  our  entent  wil  or  purpose  til  trete, 
sel  or  forgife  ony  thyng  pertenand  til  ]>e  biscop  and  ]>e  kyrk  of  Aber- 
deen J>e  quhilk  wes  of  aide  tyme  and  is  in  possession  of  J>e  tend  peny 
of  al  wardis  relesis  and  mariag/s  vscheis  of  court/s  eschetzs  and  o\>eris 
profit^  falland  to  \e  kyng  in  ]>e  forsaid  schiref-domys.  Quharfor 
to  yhu  schirefis  of  Aberden  and  of  banf  and  to  yhur  bailyhis  and 
ministris  and  al  oJ?em  }>at  it  pertenys  to.  we  gif  straitly  in  mand- 
ment  and  charges  yhu.  J>at  nocht  agaynstandande  ony  relesyng,  gift, 
sellyng,  forgifyng  or  acordyng  we  mak  with  of  )>e  kyngis  legis  of 
warde  relese.  mariage  or  ony  ojnr  profite  falland  or  pertenand  to  ]>e 
kyng,  or  ony  oj^ir  profite  of  ye  quhilke  his  predecessouris  or  he  ar 
wont  til  hafe  J?e  tend  peny.  distreignande  for  it  be  yhur  selfe  or  be 
yhur  ministris  or  his.  Sua  ]>at  in  defaute  of  yhu  we  her  na  richtwis 
complaynt.  And  J?is  vnder  al  payn  ]?at  J?arefter  may  fal  yhe  leve 
nocht  vndone.  Gevyn  under  our  p?-ive  seil  at  Perth  in  general  con- 
seil  J?e  xxvj  day  of  Junij,  ]?e  yher  of  grace  a  thousande  four  hundred 
and  sevynten,  and  of  our  gouvernail  \e  tuelft. 

James  I  (Vol.  II).     Perth  d.  Mar.,  XI,  1425. 

4.  Item  it  is  statute  and  ordanit  be  J>e  king  and  his  parliament 
J>at  all  and  sindry  both  men  and  women  of  his  realme  to  quham  he 
has  grantit  ony  letfres  of  newe  infestmen£  confirmacfon  or  proteccion 
speciale  vndir  his  hail  grete  sele  fra  J?e  tym  of  his  cuming  hame  in 
his  realme  out  of  J?e  realme  of  Inglande  to  )>is  day  present  ]?ar  le^res 
to  ]>e  king  or  to  his  depute  ]?erto  ordanit  w*  in  ]?e  space  of  iiij 
monethis  nixt  to  cum  at  J?ai  may  be  put  in  j?e  kingis  Register  til 
perpetuale  memor.  And  quha  sa  present's  nocht  J?ar  said  lettres  wt 
in  J>e  iiij  moneth?s  forsaid  fra  J>in  fur*  J?ai  lettres  salbe  to  J>aim  of 
nane  awayle  fors  nor  effec. 

James  II,  1447. 

No.  39.  Item  J?e  lordis  think/*  speidfull  J?at  our  soverane  lorde 
Cbmmande  all  his  Sehirefis  and  commissam  of  borowis  to  cum  to 
]>e  clerk  of  his  Regestre  and  ger  copy  all  J?ir  articulis  act/s  and  statutes 
abone  writtyn  and  ger  proclame  J>ame  opinly  throu  out  J>ar  schym 
and  burowis  sa  ]?at  nane  of  his  liegis  allege  ignorance  of  fame  in  tyme 
to  cum  And  alsua  J>at  all  }>e  act/s  and  ordinancis  abone  writtyn  ]?e 
quhilkis  ar  necessary  till  his  baronis  and  frehaldar/s  to  be  schawin 
at  \er  witsundais  making  or  in  J?er  barone  court  is  rjt  sa  be  takin  and 
copyit  and  schawin  to  his  tenand/s  sa  ]?at  no)>er  \e  frehaldar  nor  )?e 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      19 

tenand/s  be  negligent  nor  pretermyt  )>e  observyng  of  J>e  saidis  decretis 
and  at  ]>e  paynis  set  J?erapone  be  sa  deuly  raisit  J>at  ]>e  saidis  act/s  and 
decret/s  be  observyt  and  kepit  as  efferis. 

James  III,  1469,  p.  123. 

In  oure  souverain  lordis  parliament  haldin  and  begunnyn  at  Edin- 
burgh J>e  tuenty  day  of  J>e  moneth  of  November  ]>e  )>er  of  our  lord  a 
thousand  four  hundreth  sexty  and  nyne  jer/s  It  is  act  and  statut 
be  our  souverain  lord  and  J?e  thre  estates  In  ]>e  said  parliament  that 
for  alsmekle  as  our  hali  faider  the  pape  and  ]>e  sege  of  Rome  has 
grantit  a  privilege  and  ane  Indult  perpetuate  to  \e  prelatis  bischopis 
of  saintandros  to  Conferme  )?e  persouns  J?at  sal  be  chosin  or  postulat 
be  conventis  to  be  abbotis  or  priouris  within  J?e  diocy  of  Saintandros 
quhilkis  Indult  and  priuilege  Is  rycAt  honorable  in  J?e  selve  and 
tendis  to  ]>e  comoun  proffit  of  ]?e  Real  me  And  our  souverane  lordis 
liegis  \at  J?erfor  J?e  said  Indult  and  privilege  salbe  obseruit  and  kepit 
be  our  souverain  lord  his  successouris  and  liegis  In  tym  tocum 
without  violacioun  or  breking  of  ]>e  sammyn.  And  J>at  na  persouns 
his  liegis  or  subditis  of  quhat  sumever  stait  degre  or  ordour  J>ai  be 
of  to  our  souverain  lord  be  ony  maner  of  menys  or  wayis  In  tyme 
to  cum  tend  In  \e  contrar  of  J>e  said  Indult  or  privileges  And 
purchess  ony  abbasys  or  prionryis  ]?at  sail  vaik  with  J?e  diocy  of 
Saintandros  In  tyme  cummyng  pertening  to  ]>e  confirmacioun  of  }?e 
said  prelate  bischop  of  Saintandros  beand  for  ]>e  tyme  bot  be  J>e  said 
Indult  and  privilege  |  or  raiss  ony  commissioun  aganis  J?e  personns 
now  commovit  or  to  be  commouit  confermit  and  to  be  confermit  be 
J>e  said  prelate  bischop  of  Saintandros  for  ];e  tyme  vnder  )>e  pain  of 
Banysing  perpetual  e  and  proscripcioun  of  J?e  Real  me  And  vnder 
all  ]>e  hiest  pain  of  tresoun  And  cryme  of  oure  souverain  lordis 
hurt  maieste  and  his  successouris  And  in  likwiss  it  is  ordanit  \at 
na  persouns  lieg/s  to  our  said  souverain  lord  purchess  ony  Benefice 
without  \e  Realme  quhilk  Is  of  auld  use  and  consuetude  |  and  was 
.  .  ed  abservit  and  usit  tobe  present  gevin  or  confermit  within  J?e 
Realme  be  J>e  patrons  or  ordinaris  of  J>e  diocy  |  or  Raiss  on  Com- 
missioun j?erappoun  vnder  sic  lik  pain  and  incurring  of  )>e  kingis 
hie  Indignacioun  .  .  . 

James  IY,  1488. 

Cap  10.  Item  it  is  statut  and  ordanit  anent  the  article  belanging 
to  Burro  wis  in  ]>e  tym  of  ]>e  Justice  aieris  quhilkis  hes  bene  replegeit 


20      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

fra  Justices  he  sittand  in  f  e  principale  burgh  of  f  e  schire  to  far 
fredomes  throw  f  e  quhilkis  replegeing  Justice  has  noch  bene  done 
apon  the  Inhabitants  of  the  saidis  burrowis  in  tym  bygane  Thar- 
for  in  tym  to  cum  It  salbe  lechfull  to  f  e  kingis  Justices  he  sittand 
in  the  principall  burgh  of  f  e  Bialte  apoun  the  mater  of  f  e  air  to  gif 
ane  assiss  of  all  the  Inhabitant^  within  othem  burrowis  And  nocht 
to  lat  fame  to  borgh  and  it  pleyss  him  And  to  gif  f  aim  ane  assiss 
of  \er  awne  nichbiam  that  best  knowis  f  e  verite  gif  f  ai  be  present 
And  gif  sa  mony  be  nocht  present  fat  f  ai  may  be  to  sufficient  nomer 
that  it  salbe  lefull  to  him  to  cheiss  ane  assiss  of  the  said  heid  burgh 
or  to  like  the  nomer  as  he  thinkis  maist  expedient  for  f  e  gud  of 
Justice  and  without  pmudice  of  the  fredomes  of  the  said  Burrowis 
and  c 

James  IV.  1503,  Cap  8. 

Item  anent  f  e  article  of  notaris  becaus  fair  hes  bene  diverss  and 
greit  complentis  maid  be  our  soverane  lordis  liegis  fat  fair  Is  sa 
mony  fals  notaris  in  f  e  realme  that  it  is  dred  throu  fair  falset  fat 
trew  men  sail  nocht  be  sicker  of  fair  hereytage  nor  clerkis  of  fair 
benefices  and  in  vf  er  civile  actionis  quhilk  may  causs  ane  greit  divi- 
sioun  amang  our  soverane  lordis  liegis  Thairfor  It  Is  statute  and 
ordanit  in  f  is  present  perliamen£  that  all  bischopis  and  ordinam 
mak  all  f  e  notam  wtin  fair  dioceis  to  be  callit  at  a  convenient  day 
and  place  befoir  fame  and  mak  fame  be  examynate  vpoun  fair  suf- 
ficience  and  knowlege  And  als  tak  Inquisitioun  how  fai  have 
demanit  fame  and  of  fair  fame  and  f  e  personis  fat  fai  find  culpable 
fat  fai  deprive  fame  of  fair  offices  and  punnyss  fame  for  fair  faltis 
according  to  pair  demeritis  and  f  e  personis  fat  fai  find  acceptable 
fat  fai  send  fame  wt  fair  writtingis  to  f  e  kingis  hienes  quhilk 
sail  depute  certane  persounis  to  examyn  f  anie  And  gif  fai  be 
ganand  to  mak  thame  regale  gif  fai  be  nocAt  maid  regale  of  befoir 
And  als  fat  f  e  said  ordinaris  tak  inquisitioun  of  all  fame  fat  usis 
fals  instrumentis  And  insafer  as  belangis  his  office  ordinar  to 
punyss  fame  and  quhair  it  belongs  nocht  to  his  office  ordinar  to 
send  fame  to  fe  king  to  be  punyst  as  effeiris. 

James  Y,  1540. 

Cap.  7.  ITEM  quhair  ony  beis  suspectit  of  heresie  and  laucAt- 
fully  summond  to  answer  of  f  e  samin  ar  fugitiue  fat  f ai  salbe  and 
comdempnit  as  heretikis     And  it  sail  nocht  be  lefull  to  na  man  to 


.  A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      21 

solist  procure  nor  mak  supplicatioune  for  pare  purgacioun  reduc- 
tioun  or  grace  vnder  the  pane  to  be  punist  as  favoraris  to  pe  heret- 
ikis  and  pe  saidis  personis  fugitives  nocht  tobe  admittit  to  purga- 
cioun nor  operwayis  to  reconciliatioun  nor  J>it  to  remane  or  converss 
in  our  realme  Alsua  we  forbid  to  all  our  subiectis  quhatsumever 
estait  pai  be  to  present  requeistis  mak  ony  supplicatioun  defend 
supple  dyit  or  writt  counsal  help  procure  or  mak  advocatioun  solici- 
tatioun  labor  or  assist  ony  wayis  to  na  heritikis  fugitivis  or  banist 
perfor  or  opir  contamynit  personis  pat  ar  or  haue  bene  of  pe  said 
reprevit  sect  of  heresijs  to  haue  or  Impetrate  ony  grace  of  ]>air 
erroris  quhilk  we  will  na  way  be  accordit  to  pame  vnder  pe  pane 
to  be  pvnist  as  assistaris  to  heresiis. 

1540,  Cap  47.  For  prenting  of  pe  actis  of  perliament. 

ITEM  Oure  souerane  lord  hes  Ordanit  pat  the  actis  of  perliament 
maid  be  his  hienes  be  publist  outhrowcAt  all  his  realme  And  that 
all  scAereffis  stewartis  bailies  pro  vestis  and  bailies  of  burrowis  and 
otheris  his  liegis  may  haue  the  copyis  poirof  and  pretend  na  Igno- 
rance throw  misknawyng  of  the  samin  HAS  ORDANIT  his  clerk 
of  regrj  To  mak  ane  auctenty  extract  and  copy  of  all  pe  saidis  actis 
safar  as  concernis  pe  commoun  wele  vnder  his  subscriptioun  manual 
to  be  Imprentit  be  quhat  prentar  It  sail  pleiss  the  said  clerk  of 
Regrj  to  cheiss  And  It  sail  noc/it  be  lesum  to  ony  other  prentar  nor 
writar  To  Imprent  nor  write  pe  samin  witin  pis  realme  or  outout 
the  samin  or  bring  hame  to  be  sauld  for  the  space  of  vj  jeries  nixt 
tocum  vnder  the  pane  of  confiscatioun  of  the  samin  Providing 
al wayis  that  the  said  prentar  to  be  chosin  be  the  said  clerk  of  Regrj 
as  said  Is  haue  our  soverane  lordis  speciale  license  pairto 

Mary.    Haddington,  July  7th,  1548. 

IN  THE  PARLIAMENT  ofanemaist  Excellent  Princes  Marie 
Quene  of  Scottis  haldin  at  the  Abbay  of  Haddington  the  seuint  day 
of  Julij  The  jeir  of  God  ane  thousand  fyue  hundreth  fourtie  aucht 
jeiris  be  ane  habill  and  mychtie  Prince  James  Erie  of  Arrane  Lord 
Hamiltoun,  &c,  and  Gouvernour  of  the  Realme  the  thre  estatis  of 
the  Realme  being  present  THE  quhilk  day  Monsiour  Dessy  Lieu- 
tennent  generall  of  the  navy  and  armie  send  be  the  maist  Christin 
King  of  France  for  support  of  this  Realme  at  this  present  tyme 
schew  how  that  his  maister  the  King  of  France  havand  regard  to 
the  ancient  lig  confederatioun  and  amitie  standand  betuix  the  Realme 


22      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

of  France  and  this  cuntrie  and  of  the  mortall  weiris  crudeliteis  depra- 
datiounis  and  intollerabill  iniuris  done  be  our  auld  enimeis  of  Ing- 
land  aganis  our  Soverane  Lady  being  of  sa  tender  age  hir  Realme 
and  liegis  thairof  thir  divers  jeiris  quhairthrow  the  said  Maist 
Christin  King  being  movit  throw  fraternall  amitie  and  confedera- 
tioun  foirsaid  could  do  na  less  to  aide  support  manteine  and  defend 
at  his  powar  this  tender  princes  hir  Realme  and  liegis  as  propiciant 
and  helplyke  brother  contrare  all  others  that  wald  attempt  iniurie 
aganis  the  samin  not  be  wordis  but  be  way  of  deid  and  to  that  effect 
has  presentlie  send  him  in  this  Realme  with  his  nauie  and  armie  of 
Nobill  men  with  sic  directiounis  as  to  put  this  Realme  to  the  auld 
liberte  privilege  and  fredome  and  to  recouer  all  strenthis  Castellis 
and  Fortalices  out  of  our  auld  enemeis  hand  is  with  the  auise  coun- 
sall  and  assistence  of  my  Lord  Gouernor  and  Nobillis  of  this  Realme 
at  thair  utter  powar  and  to  wair  their  lines  to  that  effect  and  not 
auerlie  hes  send  this  armie  presentlie  bot  also  promittis  in  his  said 
maisteris  name  at  all  necessare  tymes  to  cum  to  send  and  have  in 
Garnison  men  of  weir  munitioun  and  money  in  this  Realme  in  sic 
quantitie  that  sail  repres  our  saidis  auld  enimeis  during  the  tyme  of 
weir  and  keip  and  defend  this  Realme  fra  thame  and  all  others  in 
libertie  and  fredome  conforme  to  his  commissioun  obligatioun  and 
promeis  gevin  to  him  vnder  the  said  maist  Christin  Kingis  greit 
seillis  schawin  and  producit  in  face  of  Parliament  &c,  1551. 

Cap.  26.  ITEM.  For  as  mekill  as  their  is  divers  Prentaris  in 
this  Realme  that  daylie  and  continuallie  prentis  bukis  concerning 
the  faith  ballatis  sangis  blasphematiounis  rymes  alsweill  of  kirkmen 
as  temporall  and  others  Tragedeis  alsweill  in  latine  as  in  Inglis 
toung  not  sene  vewit  and  considderit  be  the  superiouris  as  appertenis 
to  the  defamatioun  and  sclander  of  the  liegis  of  this  Realme  and  to 
put  ordour  to  sic  inconuenientis  It  is  devisit  statute  and  ordanit 
be  my  lord  Governour  with  auise  of  the  thre  estatis  of  Parliament 
That  na  Prentar  presume  attempt  or  tak  vpone  hand  to  prent 
ony  bukis  ballatis  sangis  blasphematiounis  rymes  or  Tragedeis 
outher  in  latine  or  Inglis  toung  in  ony  tymes  tocum  vnto  the 
tym  the  samin  be  sene  vewit  and  examit  be  sum  wyse  and 
discreit  persounis  depute  thairto  be  the  ordinaris  quhatsumeuer 
and  thairefter  ane  licence  had  and  obtenit  fra  our  souerane  Lady 
and  my  Lord  Gouernor  for  Imprenting  of  sic  bukis  vnder  the 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600,      23 

pane  of  confiscatioun  of  all  the  Prentaris  gudis  and  banissing 
him  of  the  Realme  for  euer. 

Records  of  the  Scotch  Parliament,  Vol.  I  (Suppressed). 

Such  copious  extracts  have  been  given  from  the  two  volumes  of 
the  'Acts '  that  extracts  from  the  so-called  volume  of  the  Records 
seem  hardly  necessary.     A  few,  however,  are  desirable. 

Of  speciale  fredomys  granty t  to  pe  burgess  be  King  Wilzame 

King  Wilzame  king  of  Scotlande  grantyt  to  pe  burgess  of  his 
said  kynrik  pat  nane  of  thame  sulde  be  distrenzeit  be  na  man  to 
zelde  ony  det  bot  gif  he  e]>er  was  borghe  or  dettour  and  alsua  he  has 
grantyt  to  pe  saide  burgess  pat  pai  haif  thar  marchandice  with  all  pe 
fredomys  pertenande  pairto  pat  is  to  say  pat  nane  of  thame  be  mote 
without  pe  zettis  or  thar  burghe  of  na  maner  of  mute  out  takin  pe 
mutis  of  all  termys  And  alsua  he  has  grantyt  to  thame  do  batale 
be  ye  mutis  pat  fallys  to  ye  kingis  crovne  and  zit  at  pai  be  derenzeit 
be  ye  lawe  of  Wynchister  pat  is  throu  pe  acquitance  of  xii  lele  men 
pat  ar  burgess  Alsua  he  has  grantit  to  thame  and  to  pair  aieris  pat 
pai  salbe  quyt  of  toll  and  lastage  and  pontage  of  passage  alsweill 
within  as  without  of  all  pe  hawynnis  of  pe  see  within  pe  kinrik  of 
Scotlande  alsueill  on  pis  side  of  pe  Scottis  see  as  bezonde  Ande 
alsua  he  has  grantit  to  thame  pat  nane  of  thame  salbe  dampnyt  in 
amercyment  of  par  gudis  bot  efter  pe  Gustum  of  pe  Wynchister  and 
pat  is  nocht  attour  Ls  and  he  has  grantit  thame  pat  thai  sail  haif  thar 
landis  tenementis  or  weddis  or  dettis  to  thame  acht  resonably  and 
all  maner  of  othir  thingis  till  thar  caus  lent  or  laide  in  wede  within 
par  burghe  it  salbe  fullely  determyt  be  and  endyt  &c,  pp.  4-5. 

How  pe  wichtaft  and  best  of  consale  salbe  chosin  to  manteine  pe 
lawis  The  Aulderman  and  pe  Bailseis  and  pe  best  men  of  pe  burghe 
sail  choiss  xn  gude  men  ar  mai  gif  it  be  myster  or  neidfull  of  pe 
maist  sufficient  and  of  pe  maist  discreit  and  of  pe  maist  lauchfull  of 
pat  burghe  pe  quhilkis  salbe  oblist  be  pe  gret  aithe  pat  thai  sail 
zeme  manteine  and  defende  efter  thar  power  pe  commone  lawys 
and  wsit  custumis  of  pe  borovis  maide  and  ordanyt  throv  sikkir 
consalis  of  kingis  and  in  our  tyme  lede,  p.  5. 

Of  pe  statute  pat  na  officiar  salbe  pledar 

It  is  statuyt  and  ordanyt  be  King  Robert  pe  Bruce  pat  na  chaw- 
merlane  Justice  Bailseis  clerkis  na  seriandis  nor  nane  vthir  officiaris 
of  law  be  manteinaris  of  mutis  or  querellys  into  courtis  of  our  Lord 


24      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

)>e  kingis  na  landis  na  zit  nane  othir  thingis  )?ai  sail  tak  on  hande 
for  to  defer  nor  tary  J?e  rycht  of  ony  part  without  J>e  forme  of  lawe 
And  quha  sa  her  agane  dois  and  tharof  is  conuickit  he  salbe  in  ]>e 
kingis  will  and  tyn  his  office  for  euermare. 

Of  thame  J?at  ar  in  possessione 

IT  is  ordanyt  )>at  na  man  salbe  put  out  of  his  tenementis  of  ]?e 
quhilk  he  is  westyt  and  seisyt  without  J?e  kingis  breif  pledable 
And  quha  sa  aganys  this  dois  sail  nocht  be  herde  in  lawe  or  ellis 
J?at  he  haif  sum  othir  breif  J?arto  accordande  and  J>at  ]?e  party  be 
resonably  summonde  warnyt  till  ansuer  at  certane  daye  and  stede 
of  his  free  tenement  till  his  party  contrary,  p.  5. 

Heir  begynnis  ]>e  lawys  maid  be  King  Alexr  King  Wilzamis 
sone  In  ye  first  Alexandyr.  Of  J>e  setting  of  Landis  (dated  by 
Thomson  1214) 

The  zer  of  grace  lm  cc  and  x  .  .  .  ]>e  day  of  ]>e  Incarnacione  J>at 
is  to  say  Sanct  Mary  in  lentiryne  at  \q  profet  of  J?e  lande  gaif  decret 
J>at  ilke  bondeman  within  J?e  kinrik  J?at  fra  now  furthe  J?ai  begyne 
to  eir  and  sawe  lande  for  thar  awne  profet  with  all  thar  besyness 
and  mycht  J>e  XV  day  forow  candilmess  and  alsua  J?at  ilk  man  J>at 
has  mare  na  iiij  ky  }>at  he  tak  land  of  his  lorde  and  eir  and  sawe 
for  ]?e  sustentacione  of  his  body  and  the  vpholde  of  his  famell  And 
all  thai  J?at  has  less  than  iiii  ky  J?at  wonnys  in  ]>e  feild  J?at  may 
nocht  mak  tilthe  with  oxin  J?ai  sail  with  thar  handis  and  thar  feit 
delfe  J>e  Erde  and  thar  sawe  sua  J?at  J>ai  may  wyne  sustentacione 
for  thame  and  tharis  and  gif  ony  man  has  oxin  and  na  lande  than 
sail  thai  sell  thar  oxin  to  thame  )>at  land  has  to  eir  and  thai  sail 
delfe  with  thar  feit  as  befor  said  is  And  gif  ony  Erie  or  ony  lorde 
in  quhais  lande  \q  purell  duellis  will  nocht  lat  it  be  done  he  sail 
gif  to  J>e  king  amercyment  of  viii  ky  And  gif  ony  man  ];at  haldis 
lande  of  ]>e  Erie  he  sail  to  ]>e  Erie  viii  ky  And  gife  he  be  seruande 
or  husbande  man  or  bondsman  J>at  will  nocht  do  it  his  lorde  sail 
tak  fra  him  a  kowe  and  a  scheip  and  fra  now  furth  he  ]?at  will 
nocht  do  on  his  awne  free  will  thai  salbe  wrangyt  to  do  it  sa  }>at 
men  fle  thir  wordis  J?at  is  to  say  J?ai  J?at  walde  nocht  eir  and  sawe  in 
wynter  ....  sail  thige  J?ar  meit  in  somer  and  na  thing  to  be  given 
to  thame  and  tharfor  best  is  J>at  ilk  man  wirk  and  travell  with  his 
awne  will  sua  J>at  he  may  get  gudis  sa  J>at  he  may  gif  hart  to  thame 
J>at  mekill  myster  hais  for  that  is  better  than  thige  tharself  this  foir- 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      25 

said  lawe  was  made  at  J>e  citee  of  Sanctandrois  ]>e  first  day  of  y 
kalendis  of  Februare 

Off  weman  askande  thar  thirde  part  of  drowry 

ITeni  it  is  statuyt  be  couss  of  gret  mute  and  stryf  betuix  twa 
parties  )>at  is  to  say  of  a  lady  askande  ]>e  third  part  of  J?e  lande  of 
hir  husbande  Ande  on  ]?e  to)>er  part  hir  party  contrary  defendande 
ande  allegande  lawe  and  statute  of  tyme  befor  And  tharfor  it  is 
statuyt  and  ordanyt  )?at  fra  nowe  furthe  ilke  woiman  wedowe  }>at 
has  rycht  till  ask  J?e  third  part  of  ony  land  after  hir  husbandis 
decess  sail  haif  it  J>at  is  to  say  of  drowry  alsueil  as  of  ]?e  remanande 
of  }>e  laif.     p.  6.     Alex.  II,  Cap  10  (Thomson) 

Of  a  theif  takin  with  gilt 

Gif  ony  man  haif  stowyne  ony  catale  and  men  folowe  him  with 
how  and  cry  and  suyt  of  court  efter  him  and  he  be  fundyne  sasit 
with  J>e  stowyne  catall  hastely  dome  salbe  gevin  on  him  as  of  a 
prowy t  theif  and  gif  ]?e  men  of  J>e  contree  J>at  folowis  ]?e  gudis  seis 
J?e  theif  leif  stowin  catale  neuerj^e  latter  ]>e  lawe  hastely  be  done 
of  him  as  of  a  tayntyt  theif  and  prowyt.  p.  7.  King  William 
(Thomson) 

Of  J?e  manner  of  hostyng. 

Item  it  is  ordanyt  be  ]?e  said  king  of  thame  j?at  cummis  to  J>e 
oist  J>at  gif  ony  man  of  quhat  condicione  sa  euer  he  be  had  maide 
mannislauchter  ref  or  stouthe  in  ane  other  mannys  lande  cumande 
gangande  or  duellande  in  J?e  said  oist  be  indictyt  befor  }>e  Justice 
the  parteis  playnt  to  quhame  J>e  scathis  ar  done  salbe  resawyt  in  this 
maner  The  bailze  of  J?e  bailzery  quhar  J?e  trespass  was  done  ande 
J?e  trespassour  duellis  sail  haif  commandment  of  }>e  Justice  )>at  he 
be  attachyt  to  cum  ande  ansuer  in  J>e  saide  place  alssueill  to  J?e  saide 
scathis  of  him  J?at  is  plantyifs  as  to  J>e  indictment  of  J>e  kingis  and 
J?at  he  be  punyst  efter  J>e  quantitee  of  ]>e  trespass  in  forme  of  lawe 
for  othir  wayis  it  may  nocht  be  declaryt 

The  statute  of  Erratikis  and  lollardis 

Item  anent  lollardis  and  Erratiteis  J?at  ilk  biscop  sail  ger  inquyr 
be  ]?e  inquisicione  erratiteis  quhar  ony  sik  beis  fundyne  And  that 
J>ai  be  punyst  as  lawe  of  halykirk  requiris  And  gif  it  mysteris 
]?at  secular  power  be  callyt  in  svpport  and  helping  of  halykirk  p. 
12  (1424) 

Anent  )>e  keping  of  the  statutis  maide  be  J?e  parliament 


26      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Item  at  it  be  requyryt  be  J>e  kingis  ministerys  gif  J>e  statutis  maid 
in  his  parliament  be  kepit  and  gif  J?at  }?ai  be  fundyne  brokyn  in  ony 
poyntis  at  J?e  brekaris  of  thame  be  punyst  efter  ]>e  ordinance  of  ]>e 
said  parliament,  p.  12  (1424). 

Anent  stalkaris  J?at  slayis  deir 

Item  it  is  ordanyt  J>at  ]>e  Justice  clerk  inquyr  of  stalkaris  J>at 
slays  J?e  deyr  J?at  is  to  say  hert  hynde  Raa  and  daa  and  ]>e  haldaris 
and  manteinaris  of  thame  And  als  sone  as  ony  stakar  of  thame 
may  be  convickit  of  slauchter  of  deyr  he  sail  pay  to  J>e  king  xls  and 
haldaris  of  thame  xli 

Anent  hostilaris 

Item  it  is  ordanyt  and  bidding  generaly  to  all  burgess  generaly 
of  )>e  realme  J?at  thar  be  maide  hostillaris  and  publist  herbry  placis 
in  |?e  borouys  honest  and  ganeand  at  ]>e  maner  of  wthir  realmys  to 
ressaif  all  and  sindry  strangearis  alssueill  fut  men  as  horss  men  J?at 
travallys  throu  )>e  realme  wnder  j?e  payne  maide  tharapone  in  ]?e 
parliament.     James  I,  1426. 

The  statute  of  J>e  tavernis  in  J»e  nycht 

The  king  and  ]>e  thre  estatis  has  ordanyt  at  na  man  in  burghe 
befundyn  in  tavernys  at  aile  wyne  or  beir  efter  J>e  straik  of  ix 
houris  and  p»e  bell  j?at  salbe  rongyn  in  J>e  said  burghe  j?e  quhilk 
beande  fundyn  J?e  aulderman  ande  bailseis  sail  put  J?ame  in  J>e 
kingis  presone  )>e  quhilk  gif  thai  do  nocht  thai  sail  pay  for  ilk 
tyme  at  J>ai  be  fundyn  culpabill  before  J>e  chawmerlane  Is  &  c,  p. 
27.    James  I,  1436. 

Ffor  eschewing  of  derth  within  |?e  contree 

Item  it  is  statuyt  and  ordanyt  for  J>e  eschewing  of  derthe  within 
J?e  lande  J>at  scheriffis  bailseis  and  wj>eris  officiaris  bath  to  burghe 
and  to  lande  tak  and  inquyr  ay  at  ilke  court  at  J>ai  halde  quhat 
personis  within  ]?e  bowndis  byis  witale  and  haldis  it  till  a  derthe 
And  gif  sik  beis  fundyng  that  ]>e  Scheref  and  wj>er  officiaris  mak 
it  knawin  at  ilk  marcate  cross  to  J?e  king  quhat  personis  J>ai  ar 
And  at  |?ai  be  bot  okkiraris  repute  and  at  thai  be  punyst  and 
demanyt  as  okkiraris  sulde  and  at  }>e  wittale  at  thai  haif  be  eschet 
to  ]>e  king,  p.  32.    1449,  James  II. 

Item  )?at  na  man  nor  woman  pass  in  Inglande  without  leif  of 
]>e  king  ];e  wardane  or  of  thame  J>at  he  giffis  power  to  in  J>at  part 
in  tym  tocum  wnder  ]>e  payne  of  tresone 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      27 

Item  gif  ony  Inglischman  cumis  in  Scotlande  to  kirk  or  marcat 
or  ony  wper  place  withoutyn  conduct  or  assouerance  of  pe  king  pe 
wardane  or  pame  pat  power  hes  he  salbe  lauchfully  presonar  to 
quhat  persone  likis  to  tak  him. 

Item  gif  ony  Scottis  man  bringis  in  pe  realme  ony  Inglismen 
or  metis  thame  at  ony  tristis  haifande  na  powar  pai  salbe  tane  and 
put  in  firmance  par  gudis  takin  and  arestyt  to  pe  tyme  pat  pai  be 
punyst  as  pe  king  will  ande  pe  wardanys. 

Item  pat  na  Scottis  man  set  apon  ony  Inglisman  in  speciale 
assouerance  but  leif  of  pe  king  or  of  pe  wardane  wnder  pe  payne 
of  treson. 

Item  pat  na  Scottis  man  support  Bervyk  nor  Roxburghe  with 
na  wittaill  fewell  nor  nane  wper  supportation  wnder  ]>e  payne  of 
treson,  p.  38,  1455. 

Anent  wapinschawing. 

Item  it  is  ordanyt  and  decretyt  pat  wapinschawing  be  haldin  be 
pe  lordis  and  baronys  spirituale  and  temporale  four  tymis  in  pe  zer 
and  at  pe  futbawe  ande  pe  golf  be  vterly  criyt  done  and  nocht  wsyt 
ande  at  pe  bo  we  markis  be  maide  at  all  paroch  kirkis  a  pair  of 
buttis  and  schuting  be  wsyt  ilk  Sunday  ande  pat  ilk  man  schut  six 
schottes  at  pe  lest  wnder  pe  payne  to  be  raisit  apone  thame  pat  cumis 
nocht  at  pe  lest  iid  to  be  giffin  to  pame  pat  cumis  to  pe  bowe  markis 
to  pe  drink  and  for  to  be  wsyt  fra  Pasche  till  alhallomess  interande 
be  pe  nixt  mydsomer  with  all  par  geir  without  sonze  and  pat  par  be 
a  bo  war  ande  a  fleger  in  ilk  hede  towne  of  pe  schyr  and  at  pe  towne 
furnyss  of  stuf  and  graithe  efter  ]>e  nedis  J^arto  J?at  he  may  serve  )>e 
cuntre  with  and  tuichande  ]>e  futbow  and  \q  golf  we  ordane  it  to  be 
punyst  be  J?e  baronys  wnlawe  and  gif  he  takis  it  nocht  to  be  tane 
be  ]>e  kingis  officiaris  and  gif  J>e  parochin  be  mekill  pat  par  be  iii  or 
iiii  payr  of  buttis  in  sik  placis  as  best  accordis  parfor  and  ilk  man 
within  pat  parochin  passit  xii  zeris  sail  wse  schuting.    p.  41,  1457 

That  wolne  clath  be  met  be  pe  Rige 

Item  to  eschew  pe  dissaite  and  skaithepat  our  souerane  lordis  liegis 
daily  and  all  tymis  sustenys  be  pe  metting  of  wolne  clath  be  pe  selwage 
it  is  thocht  expedient  pat  in  tyme  cuming  all  wolne  clath  be  met  be 
pe  Rig  and  nocht  be  pe  selwage  p.  50,  1469. 

07-TH8     T 

tflTIVBRSIT! 


28      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

It  will  be  seen  from  these  examples  that  the  language  is  much 
the  same  in  the  'Acts '  and  in  the  '  Register.'  Even  through  the 
legal  disguise  the  formless  character  of  the  dialect  is  noticeable  :  the 
earmarks  of  the  Scottish  are  present  in  abundance  and  the  early- 
statutes  show  words  of  Romance  origin  which  from  their  older  and 
adapted  forms  appear  to  have  been  already  naturalized  some  time. 
The  absence  of  a  linguistic  centre  in  Scotland,  like  London  for  the 
more  Southern  dialects,  combined  with  physical  and  political  con- 
ditions to  make  the  prose  loose  and  fluctuating.  The  early  Councils 
were  held  at  different  places,  and  while  it  seems  rather  doubtful, 
the  Records  of  the  Royal  Burghs  may  show  marked  distinctions  in 
dialect  when  they  have  been  critically  examined. 

The  larger  number  of  MSS.  of  the  early  laws  have  been  assigned 
to  the  fifteenth  Century.  "  In  reality,  however,  the  Scotch  versions 
are  translations  of  different  and  not  accurately  ascertained  dates, 
but  generally  of  the  fifteenth  century.  We  have  none  of  these  laws 
in  any  language  in  which  the  people  of  their  day  could  have  under- 
stood them.  It  happens,  however,  that  there  are  dispersed  among 
them  old  technical  words  which  the  scribes  who  put  the  text  into 
Latin  did  not  translate,  not  perhaps  knowing  their  meaning,  but 
incorporated,  with  Latin  inflections."  ! 

The  admission  of  a  *  text  into  Latin '  by  so  conservative  a  his- 
torian as  Dr.  Burton,  and  the  presence  in  these  oldest  statutes  of 
many  words  which  have  retained  their  full  Saxon  flavor,  incline 
one  again  to  turn  in  the  matter  of  belief  in  the  early  existence  of 
vernacular  statutes.  The  vexed  question  of  the  antiquity  of  the 
'  Regiam  Majestatem ?  can  here  be  simply  indicated,2  and  it  is  hoped 
that  the  last  word  in  this  famous  discussion  is  still  to  be  heard. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Parliamentary  Records  were  first  generally 
written  in  the  vernacular  late  in  the  fourteenth  century.  Latin 
and  French  (1385)  had  been  used  before.  In  the  time  of  Robert 
III  there  appear  contractions  and  other  evidences  of  freedom  from 
a  Latin  original.  Dr.  Murray  gives  extracts  from  the  "oldest 
known  documents  in  the  vernacular"  of  the  years  1389  and  1398 
(Dial.  So.  Coun.,  p.  91,  note).     This  should  be  compared  with  the 

1  Burton's  History  of  Scotland,  II,  p.  64,  note. 

2  Burton,  Hist.  Scotland,  II,  p.  58  seq. ;  Reeves,  History  of  English  Law,  I, 
p.  486  seq. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      29 

conditions  in  the  south,  in  doing  which  one  finds  that  the  begin- 
nings of  formal  documentary  and  legal  prose  in  the  vernacular  of 
the  north  were  contemporary  with  those  of  London.1 

We  have  a  good  specimen  of  dated  prose  in  the  letter  written  by 
1  George  Dunbar,  Earl  of  March  to  Henry  IV,  18th  of  Feb./  1400. 
MS.  Vespasian,  F.  vn,  f.  22  (in  Pinkerton's  History,  I,  Appen- 
dix XII). 

Excellent  mychty  and  noble  prince  like  yhoure  realte  to  wit  that 
I  am  gretly  wrangit  be  the  Due  of  Rothesay ;  the  quhilk  spousit 
my  douchter  and  now  agayn  his  oblisying  to  me,  made  be  hys  lettre 
and  his  seal,  and  agaynes  the  law  of  holykirc,  spouses  ane  other 
wife,  as  it  ys  said  of  the  quhilk  wrang  and  defowle  to  me  and  my 
douchter  in  swilk  maner  done  I  as  ane  of  yhour  poer  kyn  gif  it 
like  yhow  requer  yhow  of  help  and  suppowall  fore  swilk  honest 
service  as  I  may  do  after  my  power  to  yhour  noble  lordship,  and 
to  yhour  lande  Fore  tretee  of  the  quhilk  meter  will  yho  dedeyn  to 
charge  the  lorde  the  Fournivalle,  or  the  Erie  of  Westmerland  at 
yhour  liking  to  the  March  with  swilk  gudely  haste  as  yhow  like ; 
qwar  that  I  may  spekyng  with  quhilk  of  thaim  that  yho  will  send, 
and  schew  hym  clerly  mine  entent ;  the  quhilk  I  darr  nocht  dis- 
cover to  nane  other  bot  tyll  ane  of  thaime  because  of  kyn  and  the 
grete  lowtee  that  I  traist  in  thaim ;  and  as  I  suppose  yhe  traist  in 
thaim  on  the  tother  part.  Alsa  noble  will  yhe  dedeyn  to  graunt, 
and  to  send  me,  yhour  sauf  conduyt,  endurand  quhile  the  fest  of 
the  nativite"  of  Seint  John  the  Baptist  fore  a  hundreth  knichts,  and 
squiers  and  servants,  gudss,  hors  and  harnais  als  wele  within  wallit 
town  as  withowt,  or  in  qwat  other  resonable  maner  that  yhow  like 
fore  travaillyng  and  dwellyng  within  yhour  land  gif  I  hafe  myster. 
And  excellent  prince  syn  that  I  clame  to  be  of  kyn  tyll  yhow  and 
it  peraventour  nocht  knawen  on  yhour  parte  I  schew  it  to  your 
lordship  be  this  my  lettre  that  gif  Dame  Alice  the  Bewmont  was 
yhour  graunde  dame,  Dame  Marjory  Comyne  hyrr  full  sister  was 
my  graunde  dame  on  the  tother  syde  sa  that  I  am  bot  of  the  feirde 
degre  of  kyn  tyll  yhow ;  the  quhilk  in  aide  tyme  was  callit  neir 
And  syn  I  am  in  swilk  degre  tyll  yhow,  I  requer  yhow  as  be  may 
of  tendirness  thareof  and  fore  my  service  in  maner  as  I  hafe  before 

1  Cf.  Morsbach,  Ueb.  der  entsteh.  der  neuengl.  schriftsprache,  p.  9  seq. 


30      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

writyn  that  yhe  will  vouchesauf  tyll  help  me  and  suppowell  me 
tyll  gete  amende  of  the  wrangs  and  the  defowle  that  ys  done  me ; 
sendand  tyll  me  gif  yhow  like  yhour  ansuer  of  this  with  all  gudely 
haste  And  noble  prince  mervaile  yhe  nocht  that  I  write  my  lettres 
in  English  for  that  ys  mare  clere  to  myne  understanding  than 
latyne,  or  fraunch.  Excellent  mychty  and  noble  prince  the  haly 
Trinite  hafe  yhow  evirmar  in  kepyng  writyn  at  my  castell  of 
Dunbarr  the  xviii  day  of  Feverer.  Le  count  de  la  Marche 
d'Escoce  (Directed)  An  tres  excellent  et  tres  puissant  et  tres  noble 
prince  le  Roy  d'Engelterre. 

Another  letter  (Pink.,  appendix  VIII)  has  the  date  1405.  It 
was  written  by  '  James  of  Douglas,  Warden  of  the  Marches/  pro- 
bably to  Henry  IV.  Vesp.,  F.  VI,  f.  17. 

He  Excellent  and  rycht  mychty  prynce  likkit  to  your  henes  to 
wyte  me  haif  resavit  your  honorabill  lettres  to  me  send  be  a  Rev- 
erend Fadir  the  Abbot  of  Calkow  contenand  that  it  is  well  knawin 
that  trewis  war  tane  and  sworn  a  late  betwix  the  rewmys  of  Ingland 
and  Scotland ;  and  forthi  yhu  mervalis  gretly  that  my  men  be  my 
wille  and  assent  has  byrnde  the  toun  of  Berwike  and  in  other  cer- 
tayne  places  wythin  the  rewme  of  Inglande ;  in  brekyng  fully  the 
saide  trewis  in  my  defaute  and  nothing  in  yhours,  and  als  agayn 
my  ath  made  in  streynthing  of  the  same  trewis ;  of  the  quhilke  yhe 
desire  rather  that  amends  war  made  than  ony  mar  harme  war  done, 
tharfor  requirande  me  to  do  yhou  to  wyte  qwethir  I  will  gere 
refourme  the  sayde  attemptats,  or  qwat  my  full  will  be  to  do  o  that 
mater.  Anente  the  qwhilkis  Hee  and  Excellent  Prynce  qwhor  yhe 
say  yhu  mervalys  gretly  that  my  men  be  my  will  and  assent  has 
brennede  the  town  of  Berwik,  the  qwhilk  is  wythin  Scotlande  and 
other  places  in  Inglande  in  brekyng  fully  of  the  sayde  trewis  I 
understand  that  giff  yhour  hee  excellent  war  clerly  enfourmyte  of 
the  brennyng  slachtyr  and  takyng  of  prisoners  and  Scottis  schippis, 
that  is  done  be  yhour  men  to  Scottysmen  within  the  saide  trewis  in 
divers  places  of  Scotlande  befor  the  brynnyng  of  Berwike ;  the 
qwilk  skathis  our  lege  lorde  the  kyng  and  his  lieges  has  paciently 
tholyte  in  the  kepyng  of  the  saide  trewis,  and  chargit  me  til  ask, 
and  ger  be  askyte  be  me  deputs  redress  tharof  j  the  qwhilk  my 
deputs  has  askyte  at  dayis  of  marche,  and  nane  has  gotyne  ;  methink 
o  resoune  yhe  sulde  erar  put  blame  and  punitioun  to  the  doarys  of 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      31 

the  saide  trespas,  done  agayn  the  trewis  in  swilke  maner,  and  callys 
thaim  rather  brekars  of  the  trew  than  me  that  has  tholyte  sa  mikylle 
injur  so  lang  and  nane  amends  gottyn.  Bot  it  is  like  that  the  gret 
attemptats  that  yhour  men  dois  agayn  the  trewis,  is  well  concelyte 
fra  yhour  audience,  for  I  suppos  and  yhe  wist  it,  yhe  wald  of  yhour 
he  worschipe  ger  it  be  refourmyte  and  redressit,  as  the  cause  requiryt. 
For  lang  befor  the  brynning  of  Berwike,  yhour  men  cam  within 
our  lorde  the  kyngs  awin  propir  lande  of  Arane,  and  He  Malasch, 
and  til  his  castell  of  Brathwike  and  brynt  his  chapelle,  and  other 
diverse  places  of  that  land;  and  tuke  and  rawnsounde  thecapitaine 
of  the  sayde  castell  and  slow  his  sone  and  heryde  al  that  thai  mycht 
ourtake.  And  alsua  thai  hade  takyne  befor  that  tym  certayn  Scotts 
schippis  chargit  with  marchandis,  and  the  marchands  tharof,  in  the 
contrer  of  the  said  trewis :  of  the  quhilk  reparaciouu  and  redress 
has  bene  askyte  befor  the  brynnyng  of  Berwike  that  stands  in  Scot- 
lande  the  qwhilk  toun  yhe  call  yhouris  in  yhour  saide  lettres  and 
certayne  lands  of  yhouris  wythin  Inglande  was  brende  be  my  men 
my  will  and  my  assent  brekkand  the  trewis  in  my  defaute  and 
nocht  in  yhouris  and  in  the  contrar  of  my  athe :  thar  to  I  ansuer 
in  this  maner  that  qwhat  tyme  it  like  to  our  lege  lorde  the  kyng 
and  to  yhour  hee  excellent  to  ordane  redress  to  made  be  his  com- 
missionaris,  and  yhouris,  of  all  attemptats  done  of  aythir  syde,  I 
sail  with  the  help  of  Gode  make  it  well  kenny t,  that  I  half  trewly 
kepit  my  athe  and  the  trewis,  as  afferys  to  me  of  resoun.  And 
quhaever  enfourmyt  yhour  excellence  that  I  hade  brokyn  my  athe 
it  hade  bene  fayrar  for  him  to  haife  sende  me  that  querell  into  wyrt, 
under  his  selle,  and  till  haff  tane  answere  greable,  as  afferit  to  him 
under  my  scelle  agayne  than  sua  untrewly  in  my  absence  till 
enfourme  yhour  excellence  :  for  I  tray  ft  he  has  saide  mar  in  my 
absence  than  he  dar  awow  in  my  presens  for  nocht  displece  yhour 
honour,  learys  sulde  be  lytill  alowit  wyth  ony  sic  worshipful  kyng 
as  yhe  ar.  And  quhar  yhe  say  in  yhoure  sayde  lettres  that  yhe 
desir  rather  amends  of  attemptats  done  agayn  trewis,  than  ony  mar 
harme  war  done  tharfor  to  that  I  answer  in  this  maner,  that  qwhen 
yhour  saide  lettres  came  to  me  our  lorde  the  kyng  was  passit  in  the 
north  partis  of  Scotlande,  and  I  with  al  gudly  hast  sende  yhour 
letteris  til  him,  of  the  quhilk  at  the  makyng  of  thir  letteris  I  hade 
nane  answer.     Never  the  latt  qwhen  I  hade  undirstandyne  yhour 


32      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

lettres.  I  gert  cry  in  diverse  placis  the  trewis  to  be  kepit,  tray- 
stand  that  it  suld  be  sua  done  on  the  tother  part,  aftyr  the  qwhilk 
crye  yhour  men  of  Inglande  hes  rydyne  in  Scotland  wyth  gret 
company  like  in  fere  of  were;  and  has  heryde  Lawadyr  dalle  Tewy 
dalle  and  a  part  of  Etryke  forest  the  qwhilke  at  the  making  of  thir 
letteris  was  tholyt,  and  nocht  don  tharfor.  And  foringiffe  the  trewis 
sail  stande,  it  lyes  to  yhour  heenes  to  se  for  chastying  of  tres- 
passouris,  and  for  amends  of  attemptats  done  and  that  be  tym  :  and 
qwhat  the  (yhe?)  wochesaff  of  your  heenes  to  do  twychand  the  for- 
sayde  materis,  yhe  wolde  certify  me  be  your  lettres  wyth  al  gudly  hast. 
Hee  almychty  prynce  the  haly  gast  yow  haff  in  his  yhemsal  evirmar 
Wyrtyn  at  Eddynburgh  under  my  selle  the  xxvi  day  of  July. 

Jamis  of  Douglas  wardane  of  the  marche  (Directed  To  ane  excel- 
lent and  a  mychty  prynce,  kyng  of  Inglande) 

These  specimens  indicate  that  the  language  of  early  Scottish 
prose  while  admitting  much  liberty  in  the  representation  of  sounds 
was  really  uniform.  Differences  in  spelling  are  too  many  and  too 
irregular  to  be  classed  as  separate  developments,  and  it  is  quite 
evident  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century  Scottish 
prose  was  in  such  a  mobile  condition  that  sound-  and  grammatical 
changes,  naturally  a  century  apart,  are  found  almost  side  by  side. 

The  absence  of  a  body  of  literary  prose  of  this  time  gives  addi- 
tional value  to  these  rather  crude  specimens.  The  earlier  poets 
cannot  furnish  many  criteria  for  prose  :  English  influence,  the  uni- 
formity resulting  from  rhyme  and  metre,  and  artful  diction  induced 
in  the  poetry  serious  departures  from  the  simple  expression  of 
prose.  The  use  of  '  bestial '  in  poetry  in  the  place  of  the  more 
homely  '  catale '  of  the  'Acts '  suggests  a  difference  in  vocabulary, 
though  in  this  connection  one  should  not  confuse  many  romance 
words  which  appear  full  grown  in  the  early  prose,  and  which 
correspond  to  the  Middle  English  forms  further  south.  Cf. 
1  chevissance/  '  costage '  *  excusateoun ?  'exerce/  'exercitioun'  'joiss' 
1  mistir '  ( plesance/  &c.  Such  words  may  be  regarded  as  the 
natural  inheritance  from  the  Old  French,  and  should  be  clearly 
distinguished  from  those  French  words  adopted  at  a  later  time, 
when  printed  French  books  appeared  in  the  country  and  served  a 
double  purpose  in  the  original  form  and  in  the  Scotch  translations 
which  were  made. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      33 

II. 

Translations  from  the  French. 

The  first  prose  work  in  Scottish,  so  far  discovered,  which  may 
easily  be  called  literature  is  a  translation  from  the  French.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  dwell  here  upon  the  many  causes  which  lead  to  the 
ready  acceptance  of  French  books  in  Scotland  soon  after  the  first 
practice  of  printing  in  France.  Belief  in  an  old  alliance  which 
tradition  traced  back  to  Charlemagne,  political  and  social  con- 
federation for  mutual  good,  community  of  citizenship  and  count- 
less other  potent  and  subtle  causes  made  early  adaptation  of  French 
works  one  of  many  natural  results.1 

The  first  translation  from  the  French  which  has  been  preserved 
is  the  manuscript  copy  of  Sir  Gilbert  Hay's  version  of  Bonnet's 2 
Uarbre  de  Batailles,  or  the  Buke  of  Batailles.  This  MS.  is  now  in 
the  Library  at  Abbotsford,  and  is  marked  Z,  I.  For  convenience, 
it  may  be  called  'AH.'  It  was  first  noticed  by  Dr.  Mackenzie,  in 
the  third  volume  of '  The  Lives  and  Characters  of  the  most  Eminent 
Writers  of  the  Scots  Nation/  &c,  which  appeared  in  1722.  The 
MS.  was  in  his  possession  at  this  time,  and  he  gave  a  detailed  account 
of  its  contents.  The  next  notice  of  'AH?  which  has  been  found  is 
in  Pinkerton's  reference  to  Mackenzie  in  1797,  Hist,  of  Scotland, 
II,  p.  421.  Next,  in  1838,  the  following  title  appeared  in  the 
1  Catalogue  of  the  Library  at  Abbotsford/  p.  232  : 

1  v.  Burton,  History  of  Scotland  ;  Michel,  Les  Ecossais  en  France,  les  Francais 
en  Ecosse.  In  'A  critical  Enquiry  into  the  Scottish  Language '  Michel  attributed 
many  French  characteristics  to  the  Scottish  which  the  more  southern  dialects  of 
English  had  in  common. 

2  "  The  author,  Honore"  Bonnet,  was  a  monk  in  the  Abbey  of  He  Barbe  of  Lyons 
and  Prior  of  Salon  in  Provence.  His  name,  which  is  often  given  as  Bonnor  or 
Bonhor  or  Bonnoz,  has  been  ascertained  from  an  examination  of  nearly  twenty 
ancient  manuscripts  in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris  to  have  been  Bonnet.  A  Pro- 
vencal translation,  made  in  the  year  1429  by  order  of  Mossen  Ramon  de  Culdes, 
is  preserved  in  the  same  collection,  No.  7450 ;  and  also  a  translation  in  the  Catalan 
dialect,  MS.  No.  7807.  There  is  some  indication  of  Caxton  having  translated  in 
part  the  work  in  the  year  1490,  but  no  copy  is  known  to  exist.  (See  Lewis's  Life 
of  Caxton,  p.  81.)  The  original  work  was  first  printed  at  Lyons,  by  Barthelemy 
Buyer,  1447,  folio ;  and  another  edition  at  Lyons  in  1481.  It  was  again  printed 
at  Paris  by  Anthoine  Verard,  1493,  folio,  of  which  there  is,  in  the  Royal  Library 
at  Paris,  a  magnificent  copy  printed  upon  Vellum,  with  illustrations, — the  first 

3 


34      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

'  Here  begynnys  the  buke  callit  the  Buke  of  the  Law  of  Armys 
the  quhilk  was  compilit  be  a  notable  man,  Doetour  in  Decrees, 
callit  Bennet  prioure  of  Sallan,  &c,  MS.  fol.' 

This  MS.  Dr.  Laing,  Secretary  of  the  Abbotsford  Club,  rightly 
thought  to  be  that  mentioned  by  Mackensie,  and  in  1847  the  Club 
printed  a  volume,  edited  by  Dr.  Laing,  giving  full  description  and 
extracts  from  it.  The  student  is  indebted  to  this  volume  for  all 
the  information  regarding  'AH '  that  has  thus  far  been  printed. 

"...  we  can  only  conjecture  that  it  [AH]  may  have  fallen  into 
Sir  Walter  Scott's  hands,  either  by  purchase  at  a  sale,  or  as  a 
present  from  some  of  his  friends.  But  we  may  conclude  that  had 
Sir  Walter  been  aware  of  the  peculiar  interest  and  curiosity  of  the 
volume,  he  would  have  pointed  it  out,  and  some  use  of  it  have 
been  made  during  the  latter  period  of  his  life." 

"  The  Manuscript  in  question  is  a  large  folio  of  1 32  leaves  on 
lombard  paper,  written  in  a  very  distinct  hand  about  the  end  of 
the  15th  Century.  It  is  in  the  original  [?]  wooden  boards  in 
perfect  preservation,  and  contains,  repeated  in  different  parts  of 
the  volume,  autograph  signatures  of  '  W.  Sinclair  of  Roislin/ 
'  Oliver  Sinclair  of  Rosling,  Knycht/  and  '  W.  Sinclair  of  Roislin, 
Knecht.' " 

"  It  consists  of  three  distinct  works : — 

I.  The  Buke  of  Batailles. 

II.  The  Buke  of  the  Order  of  Knychthede. 

representing  Charles  VIII  receiving  the  work  from  Verard  the  printer,  who,  as 
already  noticed,  had  substituted  the  name  of  the  reigning  Monarch  instead  of 
Charles  VI  of  France,  at  whose  request  the  work  was  originally  written.  Van 
Proep  describes  this  copy  (Catal.  des  Livres  imprimes  sur  Velin.  d.  1.  Bibl.  du  Koi 
I,  iii,  p.  81 )  and  mentions  two  other  copies  on  Vellum,  but  neither  of  them  perfect. 
The  discrepancies  existing  between  the  early  manuscript  and  printed  copies  will 
readily  explain  the  variations,  which  will  be  obvious  upon  comparing  Sir  Gilbert 
Hay's  translation  with  the  preceding  extracts  [from  the  French].  It  must  also  be 
confessed  that  to  a  modern  reader  Bonnet's  Book  of  Battles  is  sufficiently  tedious 
and  uninteresting ;  and  it  need  excite  no  surprise  that  the  author,  as  he  admits  in 
his  concluding  chapter,  having  wearied  himself  with  his  task,  broke  off  abruptly — 
'Mais  pour  le  present  je  ne  pense  plus  riens  a  escripre  en  ce  Livre,  car  fen  suis 
tout  lasse,'  or,  as  Sir  Gilbert  Hay,  in  his  translation,  expresses  it, — '  But  in  gude 
faith  the  Doetour  sais,  that  he  was  sa  irkit  of  writyng,  that  he  mycht  nocht  as  now, 
na  mare  tak  on  hand  as  to  put  in  this  buke  of  Bataillis.' "  The  Buk  of  the  Order 
of  Knychthede  p.  xiv. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      35 

III.  The  Buke  of  the  Governance  of  Princes."  (Buk  of  the 
Order  of  K.,  p.  ix.) 

No.  II,  or  '  The  Buke  of  the  Order  of  Knychthede/  was  the 
only  one  of  the  three  which  was  printed  entire  in  the  Abbotsford 
Club  volume,  edited  by  Dr.  Laing.1 

Sir  Gilbert  Hay,  after  taking  a  master's  degree  at  the  University 
of  St.  Andrews  in  1419,  went  to  France,  where  he  remained 
twenty-four  years,  according  to  the  Taymouth  MS.,  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  King  of  France.  In  addition  to  the  family  history 
given  by  Laing,  the  following  reference  should  be  added,  which 
is  found  in  a  portion  of  the  old  French  poem,  quoted  by  Michel2 
in  another  connection : 

"Le  comte  de  Mar  prit  part  avec  son  monde  a  la  bataille 
d'Othee  en  Hasbain,  ou  bataille  de  Liege,  qui  eut  lieu  le  23 
Septembre  1407.  L'auteur  d'un  ancien  poeme  francais,  compose 
sur  cet  evenement,  se  plait  a  mentionner 

Et  le  bon  conte  de  Namur 

Cil  de  Maire  et  maint  Escossays 

1As  only  a  few  copies  of  this  work  were  printed  it  may  be  well  to  indicate  the 
contents  of  the  volume,  which  is  now  difficult  to  obtain.  The  Preface  gives :  I, 
Mackensie's  account  of  the  MS.  and  an  extract  from  the  French  version  of  the 
Larbre  de  JBatailles  (Lyons'  edition).  II,  A  description  of  the  Buke  of  the  Order 
of  Knychthede,  with  extracts  from  Caxton's  edition  of  the  same  work  (Le  Livre  de 
I'Ordre  de  Chevalrie).  Ill,  A  brief  note  on  the  last  portion  of  the  MS.  'AH/ 
The  Buke  of  the  Governance  of  Princes,  a  translation  of  the  Secretum  Secretorum 
falsely  attributed  to  Aristotle.  "  Its  popularity  was  so  great  that  not  less  than 
nine  English  translations  and  six  French  translations  are  known.  It  is  probable 
that  Sir  Gilbert  Hay  made  his  version  from  one  of  the  French  translations  cur- 
rent in  the  Fifteenth  Century,"  p.  xxn.  Then  follows  an  account  of  the  Hays, 
with  what  is  known  of  Sir  Gilbert  Hay.  Next  (p.  1)  (MS.,  fol.  85-103)  comes 
the  Prologus  to  the  Buke  of  the  Order  of  Knichthede  and  (pp.  2-61)  the  Buke  itself. 
In  the  Appendix  immediately  following  are :  I,  Extracts  from  the  Buke  of  the 
Lawe  of  Armys  [Buke  of  Batailles],  Introduction,  'Rubryis'  MS.,  fol.  1  to  part 
I;  Prologus  (MS.,  fol.  2)  and  a  few  lines  from  the  'Primum  Capitulum'  (MS., 
fol.  26) ;  'Rubryis'  to  Book  Second  (MS.,  fol.  11) ;  the  headings  of  the  chapters 
in  Part  III  (MS.,  fol.  21,  b) ;  the  Table  of  the  fourth  Part  (MS.,  fol.  26) ;  Cap. 
cxxxvin,  &c.  (fol.  77,  b  seq.);  fols.  81,  b;  83,  b;  84,  b.  Appendix  II,  MS., 
fol.  103,  b;  Table  of  the  'Buke  of  Governance  of  Princis?  Prologus  (pp.  92-93); 
'Alexander's  letter  to  Aristotle  and  Answer,'  and  finally  Capitulum  XL,  fol.  129, 
the  end  of  the  Buk. 

*Les  Ecossais  en  France,  etc.,  Vol.  I,  p.  110-111. 


36      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

II  ajoute : 

De  ceux  qui  la  furent  venu 
Des  nobles  Escossais  y  fu 
En  cestuy  jour,  que  bien  le  scay 
Lors  Messire  Guillaume  Hay ; 
Messire  Jacques  Scringour 
Fut  en  la  bataille  ce  jour, 


Nouveaux  chevaliers  Escossays 
Furent  ce  jour,  j'en  spay  la  vois, 
Pour  leur  prouesse,  en  grant  renom 
Sire  Alexandre  en  son  droit  nom 
De  Cominech,  qui  ot  cuer  entier, 
Ce  jour  y  fut  fait  chevalier. 
Et  Messire  Andrieu  Stievart 
Fu  chevalier  de  belle  part 
De  Hay  Sire  Guillebert 
Fut  ce  jour  en  armes  appert 
Com  bon  et  hardi  combattant. 


(Memoires  pour  servir  a  Phistoire  de  France  et  de  Bourgoyne, 
etc.,  etc.,  rec.  par  D.  des  Salles  et  publ.  par  de  la  Barre,  Paris,  1729 
in  4°.     Tome  I,  p.  373,  col.  I.) " 

The  date  of  Hay's  death  is  not  known.  "The  Taymouth  MS. 
is  transcribed  from  another  copy  which  had  apparently  been  written 
in  the  year  1493  ;  and  the  mode  in  which  the  Translator  is  alluded 
to  indicates  that  he  had  been  dead  for  several  years."  Buk  Knycht., 
p.  XXIX. 

An  idea  of  the  influence  exerted  by  the  French  original  upon  the 
Buhe  of  Bataillis,  with  regard  to  form  and  vocabulary,  may  be  had 
in  some  degree  from  a  study  of  Hay's  version  and  the  French  of 
the  Lyons'  edition.  Extracts  are  placed  side  by  side,  taken  from 
the  Abbotsford  vol.,  p.  xi. 

Fol.  1.  Here  begynnys  the  Buke  callit  The  BuJce  of  the  Lawe 
of  Armys,  the  quhilk  was  compilit  be  a  notable  man,  Doctour  in 
Decreis  callit  Bonnet  Prioure  of  Sallon, — the  quhilk  quhen  it  was 
maid,  callit  it  The  Fleure  of  Bataillis,  or  the  Tree;  into  the  quhilk 
Buke  thare  salbe  foure  partis  efter  as  the  Kybryis  schawis.  The 
first  part  salbe,  of  the  Tribulacioun  of  the  Kirk  before  the  JSTaui- 
titee  of  Christe.     The  secund  party  salbe,  of  the  Tribulaciouns  and 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      37 

Destructioun  of  the  Four  Principale  Realmes  grettest  of  the  Warld, 
&g.     The  thrid  salbe,  of  Bataillis  in  specialitee. 

Pol.  2.  Prologus.  To  the  haly  Croune  of  Frannce,  in  the 
quhilk  this  day  regnys  Charles  the  Sext  of  that  name,  the  quhilk 
is  lufit  and  redoubit  oure  all  the  warld  be  the  ordynaunce  of  God ; 
till  him  be  gevin  honoure,  lose,  and  glore,  abune  all  erdely  Lord- 
schippis :  maist  hye  Prince  I  am  callit,  be  my  richt  name,  Bonnet 
Prioure  of  Sallon,  Doctoure  in  Decreis.  The  quhilk  I  have  had 
mony  smale  thouchtis  and  gude  will  to  mak  sum  Buke ;  First,  in 
the  honoure  of  God,  and  of  his  suete  moder,  and  of  jour  hye  Lord- 
schip.  And  the  resouns  quhy  I  have  ondertane  to  mak  this  Buke 
are  gude  yneuch,  as  semys  me.  And  first  and  formast  for  quhy  ? 
That  the  state  of  Haly  Kirk  is  in  sik  tribulacioun  that  bot  gif 
God  oure  Lorde  set  sum  gude  remede,  the  quhilk  was  wont  till 
mak  gude  chevisaunce  and  gude  end,  in  that  mater  be  the  Brether 
of  the  Faith,  auentureris  of  the  Christin  Faith,  I  can  se  be  na  way 
that  it  may  wele  be,  bot  gif  thare  be  sum  gudely  way  of  accord- 
aunce  fundyn  and  sone.  The  Secund  cause  is  and  resoun,  For  I 
se  all  Cristyndome  sa  grevit,  and  stroublit  of  weris,  discensiouns 
thiftis,  and  reveryis,  haterentis,  and  envyes,  that  men  kennys  almaist 
na  realme  in  Cristyndome  bot  it  is  in  were.  Thrid  resone  is,  for 
quhy  ?  That  the  land  of  Provence  of  quhilk  I  am  borne  and  vp 
brocht  is  sa  turnyt  now  for  the  renewing  of  new  Lordschip,  and 
for  diverse  opyniouns  that  ar  amang  Lordis  and  the  Communiteis, 
that  with  grete  payne  may  ony  wyse  man  here  it  be  rehersit,  the 
mekle  sorowe  that  the  Commouns  sustenis  for  sik  debatis.  The 
Ferde  resoun,  for  quhy  ?  That  mony  notable  clerkis,  the  quhilkis 
wenys  thai  vnderstand  wele  the  glosy ng  of  ancien  Prophecies,  sais, 
that  it  sulde  be  ane  of  the  hie  lignie  of  Fraunce  the  quhilk  suld 
sett  remede  in  all  this  thingis  and  put  this  trauilland  warld  in  pes 
and  rest,  that  now  is  put  in  grete  pestilence.  And  for  this  cause 
my  curage  has  gevin  me  to  mak  sum  newing  of  thing  till  enfourme 
jour  jouthhede  of  mony  syndry  knaulagis  of  Haly  wrytt,  sa  that 
jour  curage  suld  be  movit  the  mare  to  help  to  sett  remede  in  the 
Haly  Cristyn  faith,  the  quhilk  is  in  poynt  of  perising,  and  geve  it 
socour ;  and  to  geve  jou  corage  for  to  do  in  sik  manere,  that  the 
Prophecyes,  the  quhilkis  are  presumyt  to  be  vnderstandin  in  jour 
persone  maist  worthy,  be  verifyit  in  jour  maist  noble  and  worthy 


38      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Princehede,  throu  jour  notable  and  haly  werkis :  And  forthy  I 
mak  jour  Hieres  hertly  request  and  supplicacioune,  that  nathing 
that  I  sail  put  in  this  Buke  je  disprise,  na  lichtly,  ffor  all  that 
I  here  say  takis  foundement  of  Haly  Writt,  and  of  the  Decreis 
and  Lawis  Cannon  and  Civile,  and  Philosophy  Naturale,  that  is 
Natural  Resoun.  The  quhilk  Buke  sal  be  callit  The  Floure  of 
Bataillis,  or  the  Tree :  And  syne  mon  I  pas  to  my  werk ;  and 
tharefore  is  thare  cummyn  to  me  sik  ane  ymaginacioun,  that  I 
will  ger  mak  a  Tree,  the  quhilk  sail  bere  bot  fruyte  of  sorowe ;  as 
men  may  se,  that  all  the  persecuciouns  of  the  Kirk  and  contreis 
beris  bot  fruyte  of  dule  and  diseise;  departit  in  Four  Partis,  as  is 
before  said,  on  the  quhilkis  Foure  Partis  the  divisioun  of  oure 
Buke  sal  be  foundit  ....  (end)  And  suppose  I  mycht  jit  com- 
pile and  gader  togedir  mony  Vertues  and  properteis  that  suld  be 
in  a  Prince,  and  als  mony  thingis  of  mysgouernance  that  he  suld 
eschew :  Bot  in  gude  faith  the  Doctour  sais,  that  he  was  sa  irkit 
of  wryting,  that  he  mycht  nocht  as  now  na  mare  tak  on  hand  as 
to  put  in  this  Buke  of  Bataillis  j  bot  and  God  geve  him  lyve  dayes, 
he  sais,  in  his  conclusioun  of  his  Buke,  he  sail  compile  a  Trety  of 
properteis  of  Gude  condiciouns  bathe  of  Temparale  men  and  of  men 
of  Kirk,  that  sail  be  gude  and  prouffitable  for  all  men,  that  on  lukis 
bathe  langand  the  governance  of  tjiair  office  and  digniteis,  as  may 
be  compylit  be  the  foundement  of  Haly  Writt,  and  efter  the  Lawis 
writtyn.  Bot  here  he  pray  is  to  God  mekely  that  he  send  grace 
and  gude  gouernaunce  to  the  Prince  that  he  has  compilit  this 
wrytt  for,  and  maid  this  Buke  till,  that  is  to  say  King  Philip  of 
Fraunce,1  and  geve  him  grace  sa  to  reule  his  realme,  and  his  ryall 
magestee  and  estate,  that  God  be  payit  of  him,  and  bring  him  till 
his  euerlastand  joye  of  Paradise  at  his  ending,  and  all  his  frendis 
and  wele  willaris. 

Cy  commence  le  prologue  du  livre  intitule  larbre  des  Batailles 
faict  et  compose  par  vng  venerable  et  religieuse  personne  Maiste 
Honnore  Bonhor,  Prieur  de  Salon,  et  Docteur  en  Decret.  .  .  . 

1  The  name  of  the  Sovereign,  to  whom  the  work  was  dedicated  at  different  times, 
was  changed  to  suit  the  occasion.  "According  to  M.  Paulin  Paris,  the  original 
author's  dedication  refers  to  the  years  1 384-1390.  (Les  manuscrits  Francois  de  la 
Biblioteque  du  Roi :  par  A.  Paulin  Paris,  Vol.  V,  p.  103." )    Abbotsford  vol.  p.  xiii. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      39 

A  la  sainct  couronne  de  France  en  laquelle  auiourdhuy  par  lordon- 
nance  de  Dieu  regne  Charles  cinquesme  de  ce  norn  tres  bien  ayme 
et  par  tout  le  monde  redoubte  soit  donne  loz  gloire  et  victoire  sur 
toutes  seigneuries  terriennes.  Tres  hault  Prince,  ie  suis  norame 
par  mon  droict  nom  Honnore  Bonhor  de  Salon,  indigne  docteur 
en  decret,  souuenteffoys  ay  en  lu  voulente  de  faire  et  compiller, 
selon  mon  debile  entendement,  ce  petit  liure  a  lhonneur  de  Dieu 
primierement  de  sa  benoiste  Mere,  et  de  vostre  haulte  seigneurie 
Sire.  Et  les  raisons  qui  mont  esmeu  et  incite  a  ce  faire  sont  assez 
bonnes,  selon  mon  advis. — Primierement,  lestat  de  Saincte  Eglise 
est  en  telle  tribulation  et  perplexite  que  si  Dieu  ny  meet  remede  et 
vostre  seigneurie,  laquelle  est  accoustumee  de  acheuer  et  mettre  affin 
les  chieres  advantures  de  la  foy  Crestienne,  il  ne  voy  voye  ne  chemin 
comme  y  puisse  estre  mise  bonne  ne  briefue  accordance. — La  Deu- 
zieme  raison  si  est,  que  voyez  toute  crestiente  si  greuee  de  guerres, 
haynes,  larrecins  et  discentions  que  a  grant  peine  peut  on  nommer 
vng  petit  pays  soit  une  conte  on  duche  qui  bien  soyt  en  paix. — La 
Tierce  raison  si  est,  que  la  terre  de  Prouuence  dont  ie  suis  ne  et 
nourry  est  de  present  tellement  atournee  par  le  changement  de  noble 
seigneurie  et  pour  les  diversitez  doppinions  qui  sont  entre  les  nobles 
et  le  communes  que  a  grant  paine  pourroit  homme  taut  fust  saige 
racompter  les  maulx  que  les  gens  du  pays  pour  ce  debat  seuffrent. — 
La  Quarte  raison  est,  que  ie  considere  choses  dictes  de  grans  elerez 
modernees  que  bien  pensent  entendre  les  Prophecies  anciennes  par- 
lans  des  maulx  presens  et  dient  que  vng  de  la  haulte  lignee  de 
France  doit  estre  celluy  par  qui  les  remedes  seront  donnez  au  siecle 
travailant  et  mis  en  grande  pestilance  pour  lesquelles  raisons  me 
suis  efforce  de  faire  aulcune  chose  nouuelle  affin  que  vostre  ieunesse 
soit  informee  de  plusieurs  entendemens  de  la  saincte  escripture  et 
aussi  affin  que  saincte  foy  de  Iesu  Crist  et  faire  que  les  Prophecies 
qui  entendent  de  vostre  digne  personne  et  escritures  soyent  verifiez 
par  voz  bonne  oeuures  si  vous  supplie  mon  tres  hault  Seigneur  que 
rien  que  ie  die  en  ce  liure  ne  vueillez  mesprier  car  ce  que  iay  mis 
en  luy  prent  son  fondement  sus  le  droit  canon  et  civil  et  sus  natu- 
relle  philosophic,  qui  nest  autre  chose  que  raison  de  nature  et  aura 
nom  cestuy  livre  Larbre  des  Batailles  pour  fournir  lequel  livre  me 
fault  trouer  matiere  condecente  a  ce  faire,  si  mest  venu  en  ymagina- 
cioun  faire  vng  Arbre  de  Dueill,  au  dessus  duquel  pourrez  veoir  les 


40      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

regnes  de  Sainct  Eglise  en  grandes  et  merueilleuses  tribulations. 
Apres  pourrez  veoir  la  grande  discention  qui  est  auiourdhuy  entre 
les  Roys  et  Princes  Crestiens.  Pareillement  pourrez  veoir  le 
grande  discention  et  mumure  qui  est  entre  les  Nobles  et  les  Com- 
munes. Et  deviseray  mon  Liure  en  quatre  parties  principalis 
ainsi  com  me  a  plain  est  cy  apres  declaire  dont  en  la  premiere  partie 
sera  faicte  mention  des  tribulations  de  leglise  jadis  passees  devant 
Padvenement  de  Jesu  Christ,  nostre  Sauveur.  En  la  seconde  partie 
sera  traicte  de  la  destruction  des  quatre  grans  royaulmes  jadis.  En 
la  tierce  partie  sera  traicte  des  batailles  en  general.  En  la  quarte 
partie  sera  dit  du  battailles  en  speciale  .  .  .  (end)  Moult  daultres 
belles  et  notables  choses  appartenant  a  tous  bons  Roys  et  Princes 
pourroye  encores  dire  et  assez  trouuer.  Mais  pour  le  present  ie 
ne  pense  plus  riens  a  escripre  en  ce  liure,  car  ien  suis  tout  lasse. 
Touteffoys  le  temps  viendra  si  Dieu  me  donne  espace  de  viure  que 
ie  escripray  aulcunes  choses  sur  les  contenances  de  toutes  personnes 
soyent  ecclesiasticques  on  seculiers,  hommes  on  femmes  ce  qui  leur 
est  necessaire  dauoir  au  plus  pres  que  ie  pourray  de  la  saincte  Es- 
cripture  et  du  droict  escript  selon  les  dignites  de  leur  offices.  Et 
ie  prie  humblement  et  deuotement  a  nostre  Seigneur,  que  par  sa 
saincte  grace  vous  doint  en  telle  maniere  gouverner  vostre  Royaulme 
et  la  Saincte  Couronne  quil  vous  a  commise  que  apres  la  fin  il  vous 
maine  et  conduyse  a  la  saincte  gloire  de  Paradis  qui  iamais  ne 
fauldra.     Amen. 

These  extracts  show  that  Hay  was  little  constrained  by  the  lan- 
guage of  the  original  in  giving  the  sense.  Such  words  as  l  remede/ 
i  chevisance/  *  travilland ?  were  common  in  Scottish  long  before 
Hay's  translation;  but  the  real  amount  of  borrowing  and  influence 
will  doubtless  be  evident  soon  after  the  publication  of  The  Buhe 
of  Bataillis  by  the  Scottish  Text  Society,  for  which  it  is  now  in 
preparation. 

The  following  representative  extracts  may  be  inserted. 

Here  speris  the  Doctour  quhat  armes  ar  maist  noble  be  the 
colouris,  and  quhat  colouris  ar  maist  noble  in  armis. 

Bot  be  cause  the  Princis  and  Lordis  beris  armes  of  mare  noblesse 
na  otheris ;  and  that  the  Doctouris  has  spokyn  in  othir  tymes,  and 
othir  placis  of  Princis  armes,  and  of  thair  baneris,  quharefore  I 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      41 

will  nocht  here  mak  questioun,  na  dout  the  quhilk  armes  are  the 
maist  nobles  and  the  maist  ryches ;  ffor  quhy,  that  alwayis  com- 
parison is  odious  ("Car  toutes  comparisons  sont  haynneuses") 
But  it  plesis  me  to  speke  sum  thing  of  Colouris  of  Armes,  and  of 
thair  descripciouns.  And  as  the  Doctour  sais,  that  sum  of  thame 
is  more  noble  na  otheris,  for  the  representatioun  that  thai  mak  be 
thair  propre  nature,  and  be  this  cause,  we  say,  that  colour  of  Gold 
is  the  maist  noble  colour  that  is  in  this  warld  here ;  and  the  resoun 
quhy  is,  ffor  be  the  nature  of  gold  it  is  clere  and  schynand,  rich, 
vertuovse,  and  confortand ;  ffor  oure  Maisteris  Doctouris,  and  Medi- 
cinaris  and  Philosophouris,  gevis  the  gold  in  syndry  wise  in  medi- 
cyne  to  folk  that  ar  debilitez  in  thair  nature,  that  thai  can  get  nane 
othir  remede  for  souerane  remede ;  and  is  lyknyt  be  his  condicioun 
and  nature  to  the  Soune,  the  quhilk  is  the  maist  noble  planet  that 
euer  God  maid,  and  beris  lycht  till  all  the  warld,  and  encresce- 
ment  and  confourt  till  all  natural  creaturis.  And  the  lawis  sais, 
that  of  all  thinge  that  God  maid,  the  claritee  and  licht  is  the  maist 
noble ;  and,  therefore,  the  Haly  Wrytt  sais,  that  the  Sanctis  in 
hevyn  schynis  as  the  soune;  and  alssua  oure  Soverane  Lord, 
quhen  he  transfigurit  him  before  his  Apostlis,  his  visage  apperit 
to  thame  as  the  soune  in  someris  day  brycht:  And  because  the 
Gold  is  comperit  to  the  Soune  as  the  propre  effect  of  the  Soune, 
the  quhilk  is  king  and  lord  of  all  planetis,  and  alssua  is  figurit  be 
Haly  Wrytt  be  the  visage  of  our  Lord,  and  be  that  cause  the  ancien 
Princis,  in  aid  lawis  of  Armes,  ordanyt  that  na  noble  man  suld 
bere  gold  in  his  armes,  bot  Princis,  Kingis,  and  Emperouris,  for 
the  nobless  of  him :  And  thus  conclude  we,  that  the  maist  noble 
coloure  is  Gold.  And  suppose  sum  ignorant  men  wald  say,  gold 
is  metall,  and  na  coloure,  that  makis  nocht;  ffor  largely  to  tak 
colouris,  be  all  our  Maisteris  and  Philosophouris,  all  metallis,  all 
low  and  lychtnes,  that  lemys  and  gevis  sycht  to  the  eynes  is  of  the 
nature  of  colouris. 

The  Secound  coloure  that  is  in  Armoury,  is  callit  be  thir  mais- 
teris Purpre;  the  quhilk  he  callis  here  Rede  colour;  the  quhilk 
representis  the  lowe  of  Fyre,  the  quhilk  is  the  maist  clere,  and  lycht 
efter  the  soune,  and  the  maist  noble  of  all  the  elementis;  the  quhilk 
colour  suld  haue  in  armes  were,  bot  anerly  Kingis  or  Princis,  be 
the  aide  custumes  of  Princis  and  Faderis  of  Armes,  of  aide  tymes. 


42      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600, 

The  Thrid  colour  is  Asure  ;  the  quhilk,  be  his  figure  and  coloure, 
represents  the  Ayer,  the  quhilk  is  next  the  fyre,  the  maist  noble 
element ;  ffor  it  is  in  itself  lignie  and  sutile,  and  penetratyf,  ressa- 
vand  the  lycht  throu  it,  and  liable  till  ressane  all  influences  of  the 
planetis  and  of  the  hevynly  constellaciones  of  nature,  throw  the 
quhilkis  all  this  Erde  is  gouernyt,  and  all  Nature ;  and  sum  callis 
the  coloure  Ajure,  hafand  the  colour  of  the  firmament,  sayand,  that 
Asure  is  a  hevynly  colour,  it  makis  not :  ffor  thare  is  bot  lytill 
betuene,  nocht  than  the  lift  is  nocht  colourit. 

Ane  othir  coloure  is  the  Quhyte  colour,  the  quhilk  next  the 
Asure  is  the  maist  noble  coloure  that  was  countit  in  Armoury  in 
ancien  cronikis,  because  that  it  is  maist  nere  the  nature  of  lycht 
and  claritee ;  and  for  the  clereness  of  it,  it  is  signyfyit  to  the  vertu 
of  puritee,  of  clenesse  and  innocence,  and  sympilness  :  And  as  to 
that  the  Holy  Scripture  sais,  that  the  clethingis  of  Jhesu  Christ 
apperit  ay  to  thame  of  quhite  colour  of  snaw ;  and  this  coloure  of 
quhite  representis  the  water,  the  quhilk  efter  the  Aire  is  the  maist 
noble  element. 

Ane  othir  colour  is  in  Armoury  that  callit  is  Blak ;  the  quhilk 
representis  the  Erde,  and  be  it  is  signyfyit  dolour,  ffor  it  is  ferrest 
fra  lichtness  and  claritee  that  betakenis  blythnes,  and  cummys  nerest 
to  myrknesse;  and  tharefore  quhen  ony  peple  or  folk  will  mak 
dule  for  ony  of  thair  frendis  dede,  or  in  ony  bataill  tynt,  or  othir 
grete  misaventure,  men  makis  thair  dule  in  that  clething ;  ffor  it  is 
the  lawest  of  degree  of  all  the  four  elementis,  and  is  signifyit  be 
it  humilitee.  And  for  that  cause,  in  takenyng  of  humilitee,  the 
religiouse  men  ar  cled  in  blak  wede,  commonly  to  schawe  mekeness 
in  hert,  and  put  away  all  lust  of  Yanitee,  and  vane  glore  warldly. 
(Appendix,  pp.  81-83.) 

Here  declaris  the  Doctour  ane  othir  Reugle  and  doctryne  apon 
the  governaunce  of  close  Bataill. 

That  nocht  gaynstandand  that  be  malice  or  hete,  woddnes,  ram- 
age  or  pride  orguilluose,  or  be  inclinatioun,  auaricius  appellacioun 
of  bataill  be  maid,  and  the  party  ressauis  the  gage  of  bataill,  the 
Prince  suld  be  wisely  in  his  audience  geving,  and  of  gude  thole 
mudenes,  to  suetely  here  the  cause  that  the  appelloure  chalangis 
the  appelland  of;  and  wele  copy  and  vnderstand  all  the  mater 
before,  or  he  geve  his  consent,  and  gif  the  cause  movis  of  dett  or 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      43 

of  fede,  or  of  ony  othir  singular  cause  he  suld  call  counsale,  and 
inquere  how  and  quhare,  and  in  quhat  place  and  for  quhat  cause 
and  of  quhat  tyme,  and  all  the  circumstancis,  and  gif  the  Prince 
may  be  ony  way  get  knawlage  of  other  pruf  or  witnes,  or  othir 
pruf  be  instrument  or  obligacioun,  or  to  draw  out  of  the  party 
be  inquisicioun  or  confessioun,  and  othir  maner  of  prufis.  And 
gif  the  Prince  may  persaue  be  ony  way  that  ony  knaulage 
may  be  gottyn  be  ony  way  of  the  warld,  the  Prince  suld  nocht 
thole  passe  bataill.  Or  suppose  na  witnes  war,  bot  anerly  that 
the  party  al  legit  witnes,  jit  suld  he  assigne  day  till  produce 
thai  prufis  before  the  justice  ordinare;  ffor  quhen  pruf  is  offerit, 
or  allegit,  all  wage  of  bataill  is  slokit,  be  all  lawis  of  canon 
and  of  civile. 

To  the  Thrid  reugle  and  doctrine  of  battaill  in  Listis  is  this : 
That  the  Prince  in  na  case  suld  juge  bataill  to  be,  bot  quhare  thare 
is  na  prufis  allegit  na  producit,  and  that  is  law  comman  and  reson- 
able  custum  ;  bot  he  sail  suere,  be  his  faith,  that  his  cause  can 
nocht  be  prufit  in  na  way  bot  be  his  persoun. 

The  Ferd  doctrine  teching  and  reugle  of  bataill  in  barrieris  is : 
That  a  Prince  suld  haue  gude  counsale  to  ger  propone  before  him 
the  maner  of  the  appellacioun,  and  the  cause  and  occasioun  that  the 
appellour  allegis  in  his  appellacioun,  and  gif  him  thinkis  resounable 
the  cause  of  the  appellacioun,  he  suld  admytt  thame  to  the  bataill ; 
and  gif  thai  war  nocht  resounable,  sloke  it  out,  and  geue  na  con- 
sent tharetill,  na  tholaunce ;  ffor  gif  fulis,  throu  thair  foly,  be  sa 
daft  that  thai  wage  bataill  for  lytill,  evyn  as  to  say,  Qnethir 
growis  better  wynnis  in  Burgoyne  or  in  Gascoyne?  or  Quethir  is 
thare  fairar  ladyes  in  Florence  or  in  Barsalonge?  or,  In  quhat 
countree  is  thare  best  men  of  armes,  in  France  or  in  Lombardy  ? 
And  the  ta-part  cast  gage  of  bataill  on  the  tothir,  apon  thir  grete 
weris  of  lawe ;  or  to  say,  his  hors  runnys  fastar  na  his ;  or,  That 
his  hors  is  better  na  his,  or  syk  lyke  thing ;  or,  That  he  lufis  his 
lady  better  na  he  dois ;  or,  That  he  dancis  or  syngis  better  na  he 
dois,  or  for  syk  maner  tromperys ;  a  Prince  suld  nocht  juge  na 
thole  bataill  to  be,  bot  he  suld,  before  the  peple,  in  presence  of  his 
counsall,  punyse  syk  trompouris,  that  otheris  take  ensample  thareby 
in  tyme  to  cum  to  gage  bataill  for  sik  fule  causis. 


44      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

The  Fyft  doctrine  is  :  That  for  na  wordis  of  hete,  and  sudane  ire 
of  chaude  cole  or  of  chaude  mellencoly,  na  injuriouse  langage,  thare 
suld  na  Prince  thole  na  consent  gage  of  bataill  in  listis  to  pas  ;  for 
wordis  may  be  said  for  hete,  or  for  brethe,  or  for  gude  wyne,  or 
othir  wayis  in  lichtness  that  sone  efter  he  may  repent :  bot  and  the 
wordis  be  injurious  and  dishonourable,  crimynous  or  defamatouris, 
and  he  persevere  in  his  outrageous  langage,  and  lykis  nocht  till 
amend ;  bot  stand  in  his  purpos  efter  that  the  ire  salbe  past,  ellis 
the  Prince  suld  nocht  juge  bataill  to  be  :  ffor  gif  he  dois,  he  jugis 
again  the  Lawis  written  opynly. 

The  Sext  Doctrine  is  :  That  because  thare  is  sum  men  sa  hichty 
hautayn  and  orguillous  and  full  of  surquedry,  that  thai  have  na 
traist,  na  fyaunce  in  God  na  his  Sainctis,  bot  in  thair  awin  propre 
pyth  and  vertu  of  corps  and  strenth  of  membris;  na  has  na  will ; 
na  thocht  on  God  to  mend  thair  mysdedis ;  na  to  tak  counsale  at 
gude  men  of  lyf  and  deuocion ;  na  to  mak  gude  ordynaunce  for 
thameself  Suppose  the  Prince  suld  the  bataill  to  be  tholit  to  be 
done  to  the  vtterest  j  And  tharefore  the  King  suld  assigne  certane 
day  of  bataill  and  houre  to  the  Appelloure,  and  he  suld  ger  schaw 
him  the  grete  perile  in  the  quhilk  he  puttis  him  in  baith  of  body 
and  of  saule,  and  monyse  him,  and  exhort  him  on  Goddis  behalf, 
that  all  before  that  ever  he  schape  him  for  horse,  harnais,  na  othir 
provision  for  the  bataill,  that  first  he  schape  him  to  se  for  a  gude 
Confessour,  that  be  a  gude  wise  clerke,  wele  letterit  and  wele  instruct 
in  the  faith,  and  of  gude  counsale  and  conscience,  that  he  may  dis- 
charge his  conscience  to,  and  schrive  him  wele,  and  put  his  saule 
first  in  gude  estate,  and  his  gude  in  ordinance,  as  he  wald  mak  his 
testament  to  ga  to  dede,  and  as  wyse  man  aw  to  do  :  Quhilk  gif 
he  dois  nocht,  the  King  suld  say  him  u  That  sen  he  traistit  nocht 
in  Goddis  help,  he  suld  nocht  traist  that  he  war  a  gude  Cristyn 
man,  and  that  he  suld  have  the  lesse  favour  of  him ; "  and  than 
suld  he  ordane  him  a  term  within  quhilk  he  suld  put  him  in 
gude  estate  of  the  saule  to  Godwart,  and  syne  spere,  how  thai 
had  done  at  thair  Confessoure,  and  sa  suld  he  do  to  the  tothir : 
And  this  is  a  takyn  that  a  Prince  is  wyse,  and  lufis  wele  God, 
that  begynnis  at  him  to  dispone  all  his  governance  and  dedis. 
Appendix,  pp.  84-86. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  befoi-e  1600.      45 

The  Buke  of  the  Order  of  Knychthede. 

This  book,  No.  II,  in  the  Hay  MSS.  was  one  of  many  of  the 
time  professing  to  instruct  in  knightly  virtues.  It  has  a  double 
interest  from  the  close  analogy  existing  between  it  and  Caxton's 
Booh  of  the  Ordre  of  Chyvalry  or  Knychthode,  which  forms  a 
southern  and  almost  contemporaneous  version  of  the  same  work 
translated  by  Hay.  "  The  original  work,  entitled  Le  Livre  de 
V  Ordre  de  Chevalrie,  is  anonymous.  A  copy  of  it  is  contained  in 
a  magnificent  volume,  written  upon  vellum,  and  illuminated  for 
Henry  VII  of  England,  which  forms  part  of  the  Royal  Collection 
of  Manuscripts  in  the  British  Museum  (MSS.  Bibl.  Reg.,  14  E, 
II,  Art.  5).  The  work  also  exists  in  a  printed  form,  although 
now  of  great  rarity." '  Abbots.  Club  vol.,  p.  xv. 

Caxton's  translation,  undated,  "  must  have  been  printed  about 
the  year  1484,  and  his  edition  is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the 
rarest  specimens  of  his  press."  lb.  His  translation  is  the  better 
of  the  two,  being  written  in  a  simpler  narrative  style  and  quite 
free  from  the  repetitions  and  involutions  which  characterize  Hay's 
prose.  The  two  versions  are  sufficiently  alike,  however,  to  indi- 
cate their  common  origin.  There  is  no  evidence  to  show  that  there 
is  any  immediate  connection  between  these  works  and  the  Boke  of 
St  Albans  by  Dame  Juliana  Berners,  1483,  Part  III  of  which 
contains  a  general  account  of  Knighthood  and  of  the  tinctures  and 
chargings  used  in  Heraldry.  Unlike  Dame  Berners'  work  there 
is  no  such  special  treatment  of  arms  and  blasonry  in  the  Buke  of 
the  Order  of  Knychthede. 

The  following  chapter  may  be  considered  typical  of  the  whole. 

Here  begynnys  the  first  chapitre  of  the  Buke. 

The  Autoure  of  this  Buke  rehersis,  How  it  befell  in  a  cuntree 
quhare  a  worthy,  wyse,  anciene  Knycht,  that  lang  tyme  had  bene 
in  the  exercisioun  of  honourable  weris,  the  quhilk,  be  the  noblesse 
and  the  force  of  his  noble  and  hie  curage,  throu  gret  wisedome 
and  hye  gouernaunce,  had  auenturit  his  persone  to  pursue  and 

^'L'Ordre  de  Chevallrie,  auquel  est  contenue  la  maniere  comment  en  doit, 
faire  les  chevaliers,  et  de  l'honneur  qui  a  eux  appartient,  et  de  la  dignite*  d'iceulx ; 
compose  par  ung  chevalier,  lequel  en  sa  viellesse  fut  Hermite."  Lyon,  Vincent 
de  Portunaris  de  Trine,  1510,  fol.,  bl.  1. 


46      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

mantene  justis,  tournaymentis,  and  weris,  and  throu  his  gude 
fortune  and  prowess,  hod  optenyt  grete  honoure  and  glore,  and 
victorious  loving :  And  efter  all  this,  as  course  of  nature  gevis  till 
all  mankynde,  and  othir  creaturis  that  in  this  erde  lyfe  beris,  he, 
considerand  that  this  lyf  mycht  nocht  langsumly  endure,  bot  it 
behovit  nedely  tak  ane  end ;  for  to  make  gude  end,  and  conclu- 
sioun  to  god  wart,  and  to  lyve  out  of  the  sicht  of  tribulacioun  and 
vexacioun  of  the  warld,  and  to  be  at  his  deuocioun  in  contempla- 
cioun  of  his  creatour;  for  he  sawe  that  God  had  gevin  him  largely 
of  his  grace,  sufficiandly  of  warldly  honoure  and  glore ;  and  that 
nature  in  him  was  sa  faillid  throu  febilness,  that  he  had  nouthir 
force,  na  vertu,  na  powere  to  welde  armes  as  he  was  wount ;  and 
had  deuisit  and  departit  his  landis,  gudis,  and  heritagis  till  his 
barnis,  and  ordanyt  for  ale  his  thingis  fynablye,  and  chesit  to 
mak  his  habitacioun  in  a  thik  wod  of  a  wilderness,  in  a  faire 
haulch,  inclosit  within  wateris,  and  grete  treis  bath  of  fruytis  and 
of  diners  naturis,  and  of  herbes,  sa  that  he  was  content  to  flee  the 
sycht  and  the  repaire  of  the  warld  :  sa  that  nane  had  sene  him  sa 
worthily,  honestly,  and  honourably,  had  euir  hidertillis  manetenyt 
sa  worthy  and  hye  Ordere  in  all  worsen ip,  but  lak  or  dishonestee 
of  his  cors,  suld  se  him  in  his  failit  elde,  for  fault  of  powere  of 
naturall  strenth,  in  syk  febilness  that  he  mycht  nocht  oure  him 
self  to  gouerne  his  persone  in  syk  worschip  of  honestee  as  he  was 
wount,  that  filth  of  elde  schamyt  him  nocht,  quhill  he  had  jeldit 
to  God  and  nature  his  naturale  dewiteis :  And  als,  that  the  vexa- 
cioun of  the  warld  gert  him  nocht  abstrak  his  inclinacioun  of 
contemplacioun  and  devocioun  fra  the  contynuale  remembraunce 
that  he  was  determynit  in  his  hert  to  have  of  the  glorious  passioun 
of  Crist,  the  quhilk  he  traistit,  suld  be  a  targe  betuix  him  and  the 
inymy  of  mankynde,  in  the  day  of  the  dredefull  jugement,  to  sauf 
him  fra  the  terrible  paynis  of  hell.  And  as  he  was  walkand  a 
day  in  ane  herbare  allane,  in  his  deuocioun,  in  a  thik  busk  of  the 
wod,  quhare  there  was  a  grete  tree  in  the  myddis,  chargit  full  of 
fair  fruytis  in  the  sesoun,  the  quhilkis  he  gaderit  and  held  to 
refresch  him  with  be  tymes :  And  in  that  herbare,  vnder  the  sayde 
fruyte  tree,  thare  was  a  faire  well  of  water  of  noble  nature,  quhilk 
in  divers  stryndis  past  throu  the  herber  till  othir  gardynnis  and 
preaux,  till  watere  thame  in  somere  for  more  gudely  growth ;  in 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      47 

the  quhilk  herbare  the  noble  Knycht  was  custumyt  to  mak  his 
dayly  repaire ;  and  thare  in  his  contemplacioun,  he  maid  his  secrete 
orisoun,  zeldand  gracis  and  lovingis  to  almychty  God,  the  makare 
of  the  mekle  honour  and  worschip  that  he  had  grantit  him  in  this 
warld,  euermare  day  of  his  lyf,  to  contyuew  in  sik  douocioun  and 
contemplacioun  perpetualy. 

And  sa  befell  that  in  the  samyn  tyme,  befell  a  grete  stormy  wyn- 
tere,  in  the  quhilk  a  worthy  king  had  sett  and  ordanyt  a  grete 
assemblee  of  Lordis  and  Knychtis  and  worthy  men,  for  hie,  grete, 
and  honourable  actis  to  be  done,  in  the  quhilkis  mony  jong  bachelere 
squieris  proposit  thame  to  be  maid  knychtis  of  that  worthy  kingis 
hand  :  And  sa  befell  that  ane  of  the  lordis  sonis  of  that  contree, 
quhilk  had  sett  his  entent  and  purpose  to  mak  the  ordre  of  knycht- 
hede  at  the  said  assemblee,  and  as  it  hapnyt  him  to  pas  throu  that 
contree  quhare  the  noble  anciene  knycht  had  maid  his  habitacioun; 
and  forthy  that  the  said  Squier  quhilk  was  ferre  trauailit,  for  irk- 
ness  of  trauale  and  waking  to  cum  to  the  semblee,  he  slepit  apon 
his  palfray,  and  wauerit  fra  his  folk  out  of  the  hye  way,  sa  that  he 
become  properly  in  the  samyn  forrest  and  wilderness  quhare  the 
knycht  was  induelland ;  and  to  the  samyn  fontayn,  in  the  herbere 
thare,  quhare  the  knycht  was  at  his  contemplacioun,  in  the  samyn 
tyme  come  [the  palfray]  thare  to  drink  at  the  well.  And  als  sone 
as  that  the  knycht  sawe  in  syk  a  kynde  sik  ane  honourable  man, 
he  left  his  contemplacioun,  and  tiike  out  a  Buke  of  his  bosum  and 
began  to  rede.  And  sone  quhen  the  pallefray  put  doun  his  hede  in 
the  well  for  to  drynk  the  Squiere  began  to  wakyn  of  his  slepe,  and 
wist  nocht  quhare  he  was  becummyn,  and  than  rais  vp  the  worthy 
anciene  knycht,  and  comit  till  him  to  spere  of  his  effere ;  the  quhilk 
quhen  the  gong  Squiere  saw  sa  hare  and  aide,  with  a  lang  berde, 
and  langar  syde  hangand  hare,  quhite  as  the  snawe,  with  a  syde 
goun,  aide  and  bare  of  wolle,  and  evill  farand,  with  mony  holis 
ryvin  and  rent,  for  grete  age  of  wering,  and  for  the  grete  waking 
and  deuocioun,  and  penitence  that  he  had  tane  till  him  in  that 
desert,  and  the  greting  that  he  maid  for  his  trespass  of  jouthhede, 
he  was  worth  in  rycht  lene,  pale  and  wan,  with  hevy  chere,  and  holl 
eyne,  sa  that  be  semblance  his  behalding  was  lyke  to  be  as  of  a  haly 
man  and  of  godly  lyf.  Sa  that  grete  maruaill  had  thai  ilkane  of 
othir,  iFor  sen  the  knycht  hed  left  the  warld,  to  duell  thare  in  that 


48      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

desert,  he  had  nocht  sene  na  man  in  all  that  tyme.  And  the  jong 
Squyere  had  mare  grete  maruajll,  how  he  was  hapnyt  thare,  and  of 
the  grete  maruailous  maner  of  the  worthy  man  ;  quhilk  be  his  feris 
and  port  semyt  till  have  bene  a  man  of  grete  valoure ;  And  with 
that  he  lichtit  doun  of  his  pallefray,  and  salust  the  noble  knycht, 
quhilk  geldit  him  agayne  his  reverence  and  ressauit  him  graciously, 
and  gert  him  sytt  doun  in  the  herbere,  and  reyne  his  horse,  and 
rest  him ;  and  lang  tyme  beheld  him  in  the  visage,  to  se  gif  he 
wold  aucht  say.  Bot  the  Squyere,  quhylk  maruailit  mekle  of  the 
efferis  of  the  knycht,  for  the  grete  worthynes  that  him  thocht 
apperit  in  his  visage,  and  maneris,  he  deferrit  till  him  to  move 
first  speche,  as  to  do  him  reverence  for  honour  and  age.  And  thus 
the  worthy  Knycht  spak  first,  sayand,  Faire  frende,  quhat  is  the 
cause  of  goure  cummyng  here  in  this  wilderness?  And  fra  quhyn 
ar  je  cummyn,  and  quhare  wald  ge  be?  And  than  ansuerd  the 
gong  Bachelere,  sayand,  Certes  Sir,  thar  is  a  grete  renoun  gangand 
in  ferre  contreis  of  a  grete  assemblee,  and  rycht  honourable,  that 
suld  be  maid  in  this  land  be  ane  of  the  maist  worthy  kingis  that  is 
in  the  warld ;  quhare  grete  multitude  of  honourable  and  worthy 
men  suld  assemble,  for  honourable  actis  to  be  done,  and  thare  suld 
the  said  king  mak  mony  new  knychtis,  because  that  he  him  self  has 
entencioun  to  be  maid  knycht  thare,  in  the  samyn  tyme ;  and  thus 
for  honour  of  the  worthy  Prince  and  of  his  new  Knychthede,  I  and 
otheris  drawis  togedir  to  se  thai  honourable  actis,  and,  God  willand, 
to  be  maid  knycht  of  his  hand  thare.  And  be  caus  that  I  tuke 
grete  journeis  be  the  way  cummand,  my  pallefray,  throu  his  soft 
passing,  gave  me  curage  to  slepe,  as  man  fordouerit,  and  sa  bade 
behynd  my  company,  and  wanderit  sa  in  this  wilderness,  vnwittand 
quhare,  quhill  my  hors,  in  this  haulch,  heldit  to  drynk.  Than  ar 
je,  said  the  worthy  Knycht  rycht  welcum  here. 

Bot  quhen  the  noble  worthy  man  herd  him  speke  of  the  hye  and 
noble  Ordere  of  Knychthede,  and  of  the  propereteis  that  till  it 
appertenis  he  gave  a  sare  sob,  and  with  a  grete  siche  that  vness 
mycht  he  speke  lang  tyme  eftir ;  rememberand  of  the  grete  honoure 
that  he  had  bene  in,  manetenand  the  saide  Ordre  of  sa  lang  tyme. 
And  quhen  the  Squyere  saw  him  fall  in  syk  a  thocht,  be  manere  of 
ane  extasy,  he  sperit  at  him,  Quhat  movit  him  to  muse  sa  mekle 
on  his  wordis?     And  than  the  worthy  anciene  Knycht  ansuerd 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      49 

him,  sayand,  That  his  thocht  was  on  the  hye  and  worthy  Ordre  of 
Knychthede  that  he  had  spoken  of,  and  on  the  grete  charge  that  a 
knycht  vndergais  quhen  he  vndertakis  that  noble  and  worschipfull 
Ordre  of  Knychthede.  And  than  said  the  said  Squiere,  that  gif 
he  coud  oucht  teche  him  of  the  poyntis  that  mycht  pertene  to  the 
said  Ordere,  for  the  honour  and  reverence  of  God,  that  he  wald 
teche  him.  And  with  that  the  said  Knycht  blenkit  vp ;  sayand, 
O  faire  sone,  how  art  thou  sa  bald  to  sett  thee  to  tak  that  forenamyt 
Ordere  bot  first  thou  knew  the  poyntis  belangand  the  governaunce 
and  manetenaunce  of  it,  and  the  maner  how  it  suld  be  kepit,  gov- 
ernyt,  and  manetenit  in  honoure  and  worschip,  as  efferis,  eftir  the 
ordinaunce  of  God ;  ffor  thare  suld  nane  be  sa  hardy  to  tak  that 
hye  honourable  Ordre  bot  he  war  first  worthy  to  the  sicht  of  a 
prince  thare  till.  And  syne  that  coud  the  poyntis  and  the  articlis 
that  to  the  said  Ordre  appertenis,  and  to  knaw  bath  the  meritis  and 
the  prowess  of  the  Ordre  ;  and  rycht  sa  the  defaultis  that  a  knycht 
may  mak  till  his  Ordre ;  nathare  suld  na  knycht  mak  ane  othir 
bot  first  he  himself  coud  thai  poyntis,  techingis,  and  documentis,  to 
teche  thame  to  the  vossall  or  bachelere,  that  he  thocht  to  mak  a 
knycht  of ;  ifor  he  is  misordanyt  and  vnworthy  knycht  that  makis 
knychtis  nocht  knawand  the  propereteis  of  the  said  Ordre,  to  teche 
to  thame  that  he  gevis  the  Ordre  till  the  custumys  and  documentis 
that  till  it  appertenis.  And  than  said  the  Squyare,  Faire  Fader, 
sen  it  is  sa  that  as  I  traist  je  knaw  the  propereteis  and  custumes 
of  the  said  Ordre,  that  je  wald,  of  jour  gudelynes,  teche  me  and 
informe  of  the  documentis  and  propereteis  belangand  to  the  said 
Ordre  of  Knichthede ;  ffor  I  have  gude  hope  in  God,  that  for  the 
traist  that  I  have  thairto,  I  sulde  lere  besily  and  wele  all  the  per- 
fectioun  of  the  said  Ordre. 

And  than  ansuerd  the  Knycht,  sayand,  faire  sone,  sen  it  is  sa 
that  thou  has  sa  gude  will  to  lere  the  reuglis  and  the  documentis 
belangand  the  said  Ordre,  I  sail  len  the  a  lytill  Buke  quharein  all 
the  reuglis  and  the  Ordynaunce  of  all  the  poyntis  and  documentis 
that  pertenis  to  the  said  Ordre  ar  writin ;  in  the  quhilk  Buke,  I 
rede  wele  oft,  and  takis  consolatioun,  of  the  mekle  honoure,  wor- 
schippis,  and  worthynes,  that  to  the  said  Ordre  appertenis,  and  of 
the  grete  grace  that  God  hes  gevin  me  in  this  erde  to  be  sa  happy 
till  haue  gouernyt  sa,  but  lak,  the  said  Ordre,  that  all  my  grace 
4 


50      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

and  gude  aventure  throw  it  I  hadand  rycht  sa  I  honourit  it,  and 
did  all  my  powere  to  mantene  it  and  kepe  it  in  worschip,  but 
repruf ;  for  rycht  as  knycht,  be  his  Ordre,  takis  bath  of  God 
and  man  honoure,  worschip,  and  worldly  proufnt,  rycht  sa  he  is 
behaldyn  till  gouerne,  kepe,  and  manetene  his  Ordre  in  all 
honoure,  worschip,  and  reverence,  vndefoulit.  And  than  delyuerit 
the  Knycht  the  Buke  to  the  Bachelere,  in  the  quhilk  quhen  he 
had  red  a  lytill  space,  he  hevit  up  his  handis  to  the  hevyn,  and 
lovit  Almichti  God  that  had  gevin  him  the  grace  to  cum  that  way 
in  the  tyme  that  he  was  sa  wele  fortunyt  to  have  knawlage  of  the 
poyntis  techingis  and  propereteis  of  the  said  Ordre  and  reuglis 
that  till  it  appertenit,  the  quhilk  I  have  lang  tyme  mekle  desyrit 
to  knaw.  And  than  said  the  Knycht,  Faire  sone,  thou  sail  tak 
this  Buke  with  the"  to  the  Court,  for  sen  I  am  bath  aide  and  wayke 
and  may  nocht  travaill  to  schow  the  reuglis  and  documentis  and 
propereteis  of  the  said  Ordre  to  thame  that  desyris  thame,  that  ar 
with  the  king  thou  sail  geve  the  copy  of  this  Buke  till  all  men 
that  desyris  it ;  and  thou  sail  hecht  me,  quhen  thou  art  doubbit 
Knycht,  thou  sail  cum  this  waye  agayne  this,  and  tell  me  quhat 
knychtis  salbe  maid  thare,  and  all  the  manere  of  thair  making, 
and  how  the  king  and  the  new  knychtis  takis  in  thank  this  Buke 
of  the  reuglis  and  documentis  of  the  said  Ordre ;  and  quha  askis 
the  copy  of  it. 

And  thus  tuke  the  Bachelere  his  leve  at  the  Knycht,  and  the 
Knycht  his  benedictioun,  and  sa  lap  on  his  horse,  and  passit  on, 
quhill  he  met  with  his  meiige" ;  and  sa  to  the  kingis  palace ;  and 
did  his  devoyr  in  gouernement  of  his  persone  rycht  worthily, 
and  gave  the  copy  till  all  maner  of  noble  men  that  wald  desyre 
till  haue  it;  the  quhilk  Buke  the  king  lovit  mekle,  and  prisit 
and  all  the  lordis,  and  held  it  rycht  dere  (Abbots.  Club,  vol., 
pp.  3-8). 

Quotation  from  Part  III  of  'AH/  The  Buke  of  the  Gouernance 
of  Princes  would  show  little  more  of  the  language  than  has  been 
evident  from  the  two  preceding  extracts.  The  Phonology  of 
'AH*  represents  an  old  stage  of  the  language  and  according  to 
Dr.  Murray's  vowel-division,  it  would  fall  within  the  limits  of 
the  Early  Scottish  Period.  That  is  to  say,  the  older  and  simpler 
vowels  prevail :  a  =  Mid.  Scot,  ai,  au;  e  =  Mid.  Sc.  ei;  u  =  Mid. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      51 

Sc.  ui ;  ex. '  sare  '=  M.  S.  sair ;  <  aid  '=  M.  S.  auld  ;  *  kepe  '=  M.  S. 
keip  ;  '  buke  '=  M.  S.  buik. 

Throughout  the  MS.  there  is  greater  regularity  in  the  represen- 
tation of  sounds,  both  vowel  and  consonant,  than  one  meets  with 
elsewhere  in  the  early  period  of  Scottish  prose. 

The  French  element  does  not  seem  to  have  been  consciously  used, 
and  the  relative  use  of  Saxon  and  Romance  words  is  about  the 
same  as  in  English  prose  of  the  same  date. 


III. 
The  Buke  of  Luf. 

The  next  prose  work  of  literary  importance  is  the  Buke  of  Luf 
which  was  published  in  Vol.  I  of  the  Bannatyne  Miscellany,  1827. 
It  is  No.  XIX  in  Asloanes  MS.,  written  about  the  year  1515,  or 
No.  IX  in  the  description  of  the  MS.  given  by  Dr.  Schipper  which 
was  made  from  the  imperfect  transcript  in  the  University  Library, 
Edinburgh.1 

The  original  MS.  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Lord  Talbot  of 
Malahide  Castle,  Dublin.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  this  MS. 
has  never  been  printed  in  full.  Lord  Talbot  de  Malahide  allowed 
it  to  be  copied  in  part  at  the  British  Museum  for  the  Scottish  Text 
Society,  but  it  was  returned  to  the  owner  before  a  complete  tran- 
scription was  made.  At  present  the  MS.  is  not  accessible  "  even 
for  scientific  purposes." 

The  Buke  of  Luv,  or  The  Spedakle  of  luf  or  dileciatioun  of  wemen, 
is  a  disputation  between  Youth  and  Age,  similar  to  many  of  the 
time,  in  which  Age,  as  an  old  Knight,  counsels  and  advises  a  young 
Squire  in  the  affairs  of  the  heart :  very  much  as  the  old  Knight 
gives  lessons  in  knightly  valor  in  Hay's  book.  The  original  has 
not  been  definitely  ascertained ;  many  books  similar  to  the  Speck- 
takle  of  Luf  existed  at  the  time  both  in  Latin  and  French,  and,  as 
the  author  says  in  the  Prologue  that  the  original  was  Latin,  a  closer 
study  may  discover  it.  This  may  have  been,  however,  a  trick  of 
the  author  to  shift  the  responsibility  for  whatever  might  offend  the 
taste  of  his  readers. 

1  Poems  of  William  Dunbar,  ed.  Dr.  Schipper,  part  first,  pp.  5-9. 


52      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

The  '  Buke '  is  divided  into  eight  parts,  each  chapter  describing 
a  class  of  women  to  whom  the  youth  should  not  give  his  affection, 
ending  with  a  praise  of  virtue  and  matrimony.  It  was  written  by 
G.  Myll,  at  St.  Andrews,  in  July,  1492,  who  left  a  short  account 
of  himself  in  the  brief  note  at  the  end  of  the  l  Buke/ 

"  The  Spectakle  of  Luf,  &c,  translatit  out  of  Latin  into  our 
wulgar  and  maternall  toung,  at  the  Cyte  of  Sandandrois,  the  x  day 
of  Julij  the  jer  of  God  Ane  thowsand,  four  hundreth,  nyntye  and 
twa  jeiris,  be  ane  clerk,  quhilk  had  bene  in  to  Venus  Court  mair 
than  the  space  of  xx  jeris,  quhill  I  mycht  nocht  mak  the  service 
that  I  was  put  out  of  hir  byll  of  houshald ;  howbeit  to  gif  example 
till  otheris  to  perseveir  in  the  service  of  luf,  at  my  deperting  scho 
gaif  me  thre  gyftis,  lyk  as  scho  dois  to  all  thaim  that  contynewis 
into  her  cowrt ;  that  is,  an  aid,  hair,  and  dotand  heid ;  ane  emptyff 
and  twme  purss ;  and  ane  pair  of  beidis  of  Sabill ;  to  causs  me  for 
to  haif  remembrans  that  I  had  bene  sa  lang  in  to  hyr  service." 

The  following  extracts  have  been  selected. 

The  Prologue. 

As  I  was  musing  apone  the  restles  besynes  of  this  translatory 
warld,  quhilkis  thochtis  and  fantessys  trublit  my  spreit,  and  for 
to  devoyd  me  of  sic  imagynatiounis,  I  tuk  a  lytill  buk  in  Latyfi 
to  pas  myne  tyme ;  the  quhilk  as  I  had  red  and  considerit,  me 
thocht  the  mater  gud  and  proffitable  to  be  had  into  our  wulgar 
and  matarnall  toung,  for  to  causs  folkis  to  mair  eschew  the  dilec- 
tatioun  of  the  flesche,  quhilk  is  the  modir  of  all  vicis :  Tharfor,  be 
sufferans  of  God,  I  purpois  to  endur  me  bothe  translatioun  of  the 
samyfl,  becaus  of  the  gud  and  proffitable  mater  it  treitis  of,  that 
was,  How  a  gud  anceant  Knycht,  that  in  his  youthheid  had 
frequentit  his  body  in  the  deidis  of  chevalrye  to  the  encressing 
of  his  name  to  honour,  notwithstanding  his  gret  besynes  in  the 
factis  merciall,  inlyk  wyss  he  had  occupiit  him  self  in  the  study 
of  naturale  philosophy,  to  the  end  that  he  suld  eschew  vice ;  the 
quhilk  gud  aid  Knycht  opnyt  and  declarit  vnto  a  goung  Squyar, 
his  sone,  that  was  to  gretly  amoruss,  the  evillis  and  myshappis 
that  men  cummys  to  throw  the  gret  plesans  thai  haif  in  wemen,  be 
the  delectatiouii  of  the  flesche,  except  the  luf  quhilk  is  detfully  vsit 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      53 

in  the  haly  band  of  matirmony ;  tuiching  the  quhilk  I  will  nocht 
speik  in  my  sempill  translations  :  Beseking  all  ladyes  and  gentill 
wemen  quhar  it  is  said  in  ony  poynt  to  thar  displesour  thai  put 
nocht  the  blaim  thereof  to  me,  bot  to  myn  auctour  that  was  the 
fyrst  com pylar  of  this  buk,  the  quhilk  is  intilillit  and  callit  The 
Spectakle  of  Luf:  for  in  it  apperis  and  schawis  sum  evillis  and 
myshappis  that  cummys  to  men  therethrow,  as  the  filth  or  spottis 
of  the  face  schawis  in  the  myrour  of  glas. 

Cap.YI  (part). — Sum  tyme  thar  dvelt  a  knycht  in  the  cite  that 
had  a  fair  wyf,  quhilk  he  luffit  sa  mekle,  that  the  causs  in  paryng 
hir  naill  hir  fyngar  bled  a  lytill,  for  verray  sorow  he  deit.    Incon- 
tynent  his  frendis,  as  than  was  the  custome,  beryet  him  in  the  kyrk 
jard.    Alsone  as  this  knycht  was  gravit,  this  fair  jong  wedow,  his 
wyf,  gart  byg  hir  a  luge  abone  his  tombe,  awowand,  that  thar  scho 
wald  remane  duryng  hyr  lyf  in  contemplatioun  and  praying  for 
his  soull.     In  this  tyme  the  law  was  in  Rome,  that  quhen  ony 
man  war  justify et,  the  Seref  behuffit  allan  to  walk  in  the  fyrst 
nycht  that  he  war  nocht  stollyn  of  the  gallowss.     That  nycht  it 
hapnyt  that  thar  was  a  man  justify t,  that  the  Seref,  quhilk  was  a 
lusty  joung  man,  a  noble  knycht,  he  walkit  at  the  gallouss.     The 
nycht  was  cald  and  myrk,  how  beit  he  saw  towart  the  toune  a  fyr 
in  the  kyrk  gard,  quhar  this  knycht  was  berijt,  to  the  quhilk  he 
raid  and  renjeit  his  harss,  and  come  to  the  luge,  quhar  he  fond 
this  fair  jung  Lady  allane.     To  quhome  he  said,  my  faire  Ladye, 
quhat  do  je  heir  in  this  plyte  ?     This  Lady  schew  vnto  him  how 
hyr  lord  deit  for  hyr  luf,  and  that  scho  wald  remane  thar  in  deuo- 
tioufi  far  his  saull ;  and  than  the  Seref  said  to  hyr,  My  fair  Lady, 
je  sail  nocht  do  sa,  je  knaw  I  am  a  gretar  lord  than  he  was,  and 
als  noble  a  man  as  he  was ;  ge  sail  cum  to  the  warld  agane,  and 
cheiss  me  to  jour  lord  and  luf.     Schortlie  he  inducit  hyr  swa,  that 
scho  agreit  to  him.     Quhill  thai  war  thus  at  thar  perliament,  the 
Seref  remembrit  him  of  his  office,  and  speid  him  thair,  quhair  he 
fand  the  theif  stollyn  of  the  gallowis ;  howbeit  he  come  agane  to 
hir,  and  said,  Ladye,  full  deir  I  haif  bocht  jour  luf;  and  schew 
hyr  the  caiss,  and  how  that  he  behuffit  outher  to  be  put  in  his 
place,  or  leif  the  cuntre*  and  his  herytage  for  euermair,  effermand, 
that  he  was  mair  hevy  to  depart  with  hyr  na  for  all  the  laif.    Scho 
said,  That  sail  je  nocht,  for  heir  is  my  husband  new  deid ;  we  sail 


54      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

put  him  wpe  on  the  gallowis  in  the  place  of  the  theif.  He  said, 
I  thank  jow ;  bot,  be  my  honour,  I  my  twiche  na  deid  men.  Scho 
said,  Than  sail  I.  Scho  tuk  hir  husband  and  hangit  him  vpe 
vpone  the  gallowis.  The  Seref  said,  Yit  thair  is  a  defalt.  This 
theif,  in  the  taking,  had  his  teith  strikin  out  befor ;  and  als  he 
was  bollit,  and  wantit  baith  his  eris ;  and  be  nocht  jour  husband 
swa,  it  wil  be  persauit  that  it  is  nocht  the  theif.  To  quhom  scho 
said,  I  sail  do  all  that  je  haif  devysit;  and  tuk  the  Sereffis  sword, 
quhar  with  scho  strak  out  his  for  teith,  and  cuttit  of  baith  his  eris, 
and  with  hir  handis  pullit  the  hair  of  his  heid,  and  he  semyt  all 
beld,  and  than  said  to  the  Seref,  now  I  haif  done  all  that  ge  wald, 
tak  me  to  jour  wyf.  To  quhom  he  answerit  and  said,  A !  God 
defend  me  tharfra !  for  quhen  I  think  on  my  eris,  and  on  my  for 
teith,  and  felis  the  hair  on  my  for  heid,  I  dar  neuer  ventur  to  tak 
gow  to  my  wyf.  Be  this,  my  Sone,  it  may  be  persauit  the  gud- 
nes  of  wedowis  and  agit  wemen. 

The  tales  are  told  in  a  simple  style,  and  not  without  a  facetious- 
ness  which  might  readily  be  expected  from  the  subjects  treated.  Until 
the  Asloane  MS.  has  been  edited,  it  will  be  difficult  to  assign  it  a 
date  with  any  degree  of  certainty.  The  editor  of  the  Buk  of  Luf 
for  the  Bannatyne  Miscellany  gave  the  date  as  'about  the  year  1515/ 
Laing  and  Dr.  Mackay  gave  the  same,  and  as  Dr.  Schipper  does  not 
accept  Chalmers's  reasons  for  assigning  it  to  the  year  1508  (Dunbar 
poems,  1,  p.  9),  the  year  1515  may  still  be  considered  as  the  prob- 
able date.1 

The  language  of  the  Buk  of  Luf  is  a  good  sample  of  what  might 
be  called  ''transitional  •'  many  forms,  such  as  'aid/  'gud/  'luv/ 
'  kepe/  '  tuk/  &c,  show  the  older  vowels  (rather  than  results  of 

1  Those  portions  of  the  Asloane  MS.  which  are  in  prose  are  the  following : 
"Part  III:  'The  divisioun  of  all  the  warld  callit  the  cart  schortly  drawyn  in 
Ingliss,'  fols.  77-88  a ;  Part  IV :  '  The  wertiues  of  nobilness,'  .  .  .  the  same  as 
'  The  Porteus  of  Nobilnes,'  printed  in  1508  by  Chepman  and  My  liar,  fols.  86  a- 
92b;  Part  V:  'The  Scottis  Originale,'  the  origin  of  the  Scottish  nation  .  .  . 
written  in  the  early  part  of  James  V  reign,  fols.  93-98 ;  Part  VI :  'Ane  tractat 
of  a  part  of  the  Ynglish  chronikle,'  imperfect  at  the  end,  fols.  99-107 ;  Part  VII : 
'Ane  schort  memoriale  of  the  Scottis  corniklis  for  addicioun,'  a  chronicle  of  events 
during  the  reign  of  James  II,  1437-1460 ;  probably  in  prose,  not  expressly  stated 
by  Chalmers,  fols.  109-123 ;  Part  VIII :  'Ane  tractat  drawin  out  of  the  Scottis 
cornikle,  begynnand  in  the  thrid  age  of  the  warld,'  .  .  .  continued  till  the  29th 
August,  1513;  should  stand  before  the  preceding  piece  in  the  MS.,  fols.  124-136; 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      55 

English  influence),  while  16th  Century  forms  are  also  found  : 
f  maist,'  '  leit/  '  breist/  '  dreidfall/  '  reid/  &c.  As  is  not  unusual 
after  this  time,  there  is  a  liberal  dash  of  anglicisms,  participles  in 
-ing  being  most  prominent. 

IV. 

Earliest  Printed  Prose.1 

The  first  Scottish  printers,  beginning  with  Andro  Myllar,  whose 
earliest  dated  Scotch  book  was  published  in  1508  at  Edinburgh, 
left  few  works  in  the  vernacular  prose.  The  Patent  issued  by 
James  IV  in  1507  to  Walter  Chepman  and  Myllar  hastened  the 
introduction  of  printing  into  Scotland  by  royal  sanction;  and  in 
this  Patent  one  may  see  the  stimulus  given  to  the  Art  which  a  few 
years  later  made  permanent  the  names  of  Bellenden  and  Lyndesay. 
One  naturally  looks  to  France  for  the  men  and  the  materials  with 
which  they  began  to  print  the  'bukis  of .  .  .  Lawis,  actis  of  parlia- 
ment, croniclis,  mess  bukis,  and  portuns/  which  were  specified  in 
the  Patent  •  and  we  find  that  Andro  Myllar  had  practised  his  art 
in  Rouen,  there  being  books  of  French  origin  bearing  his  device 
and  the  dates  1505  and  1506. 

The  first  and  indeed  the  only  Scottish  prose  tract  extant  from  his 
press  is  the  fragment  of  the  Porteus  of  Nobilnes  preserved  in  the 
unique  volume  containing  other  pieces  in  verse  printed  by  Chepman 
and  Myllar,  now  in  the  Advocates'  Library,  H.  30,  A.  I.  The 
original  leaves  were  much  worn  and  have  been  inlaid  in  stout  paper. 
The  Porteus  and  the  rest  were  printed  by  Laing  in  a  volume 
entitled  '  The  Knightly  Tale  of  Golagras  and  Gawayne,  and  other 
ancient  Poems/  where  the  Porteus,  which  is  a  fragment,  comes 
last.    "  Dr.  Laing  in  his  reprint  supplies  the  missing  leaves  [of  the 

Part  IX:  'The  Spectakle  of  luf,'  &c,  fols.  137-150;  Part  X:  'The  bibill  of  the 
sex  werk  days  according  to  the  sex  agis,'  .  .  .  fols.  151-166."  v.  Dr.  Schipper's 
account  in  his  edition  of  Dunbar's  poems,  part  first,  p.  5.  It  will  be  seen  that 
next  to  the  Hay  MS.  this  is  the  most  important  collection  of  old  Scottish  prose ; 
and,  when  its  treasures  in  verse  are  considered,  it  rivals  in  value  the  famous 
Bannatyne  MS.,  which  has  been  so  worthily  edited.  When  one  considers  that 
the  printing  of  a  manuscript  adds  to  its  importance  and  value,  one  is  at  a  loss  to 
understand  why  the  Asloane  MS.  was  not  edited  in  full  long  ago. 
1  v.  note,  end  of  vol. 


56      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Porteus~\  from  a  copy  in  the  Asloan  manuscript,  and  from  which  it 
appears  that  the  original  must  have  had  seven  leaves  of  text,  besides, 
in  all  probability,  a  preliminary  leaf,  which  may  have  contained  on 
the  recto  the  title  over  Chepman's  device,  the  reverse  being  blank."1 
The  fragment  of  five  leaves  was  printed  by  Dr.  Leyden  in  his 
Dissertation  to  the  <  Complaynt  of  Scotland/  pp.  203-208.  The 
scarcity  of  these  two  reprints  may  warrant  the  insertion  of  the  frag- 
ment, transcribed  from  the  original  leaves. 

Porteus  of  Nobilnes. 

.  .  .  nor  compt  of  is  lif  that  servis  noght  diligence  quhill  .  .  . 
awaykynis  all  othir  vertues  Quhat  avalis  or  quhat  is  ane  man 
worth  that  mulijs  and  lyis  in  slogardy  that  will  have  ane  soft  bed 
Ane  full  wame  remanyng  at  eas  and  pas  the  tyme  day  be  day  |  and 
wolk  be  wolk  and  rekis  not  nor  takis  na  compt  how  all  thing 
pas  |  Quhat  be  wonnyn  or  quhat  be  tynt  And  will  have  men 
befor  hym  bair  heid  kneland  and  saynge  that  he  is  ane  nobill 
quhilk  is  gret  merual  quhair  his  awne  dedis  schewis  y  contrair  | 
bot  quha  that  is  a  nobill  he  leris  quhair  of  seruis  diligence  that 
awaiknis  all  othir  vertuis  O  nobill  man  the  Wyne  graip  rottis 
and  deis  gif  it  ly  at  the  erd  undir  the  leif  the  mischeif  and  fall  a 
wise  and  consulis  a  man  |  and  diligence  that  a  waiknis  all  vertues 
in  travail  makis  of  ane  rud  and  unnurist  man  Ane  man  cunning 
and  pert  and  The  IX  vertu  in  nobill  man  |  is  clenelynes  The  hert 
set  in  nobilnes  and  desirand  hie  honour  suld  dispise  all  filth  and 
vnhonesti  for  he  despisis  his  nobilnes  that  takis  keip  and  tent  to 
othir  mennis  guyding  |  and  kepis  noght  hym  selue  clene  |  he  than 
suld  nothir  say  nor  do  thing  that  war  to  discomende  nor  that  myght 
empair  or  skaith  ane  othir  man  nor  y  my*  mysuse  hi[s]  awne  lose 
and  honour  gif  he  awisit  thoght  and  lukit  weill  to  hym  selve  y 
takis  tent  and  keip  to  all  othir  men  |  foul  speking  and  mekill 
myssaing  or  flityng  or  ane  unhonest  deuise  to  the  man  that  is  sene 
and  behaldyn  be  mo[p.  2]-ny  men  |  for  honeste  is  requirit  to  keip 
in  saif  gard  tham  that  takis  compt  and  keip  of  othir  mennis  guyd- 
ing. O  nobill  man  be  clenelines  of  person  plesand  and  fair  hauyng 
thay  keip  tham  fra  filth  y  takis  keip  to  all  othir  men. 

Annals  of  Scottish  Printing,  p.  52. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      57 

The  tent  vertu  in  ane  nobill  man  is  larges.  Larges  in  all  caice 
is  sa  curtase  and  avenand  that  it  is  the  reut  of  honour  quhair  of 
the  ane  Wynnis  profit  the  othir  mereite  It  proflfitis  y  takar  and 
delittis  the  giffer  and  amendis  and  settis  thame  baith  in  right  thair 
Is  na  thing  tynt  y  larges  dispendis  for  he  dispendis  all  his  gudis 
be  wisedom  And  to  larges  all  Way  gudis  cumis  and  aboundis  bot 
]>e  prodigal  man  spendand  without  mesure  and  prouision  Waistis 
and  destroyis  larges  than  y  profitis  and  ekis  hym  self  and  plesis 
and  contends  all  otheris  as  y  techer  of  all  vertuis  in  this  warelde 
The  reward  takin  oblisis  the  taker  and  acquitis  y  giffer  of  his  gret 
bounte  Thing  thairfor  giffin  is  bettir  than  all  the  laif  for  gudis 
hid  reports  bot  litill  thanke  ioy  or  plesir  and  auarice  is  waryit 
and  haldyn  abhominable  be  sa  mekill  y  scho  closis  hir  hand  and 
giffis  to  na  man  And  it  cumis  of  tymes  to  y  auaricius  that  ane 
othir  spendis  and  puttis  to  the  wynd  y  gudis  he  gaderit  With  gret 
trouble  and  pane  And  gif  thair  cumis  to  hym  wexation  werre  or 
trouble  thar  is  na  man  y  comptis  or  settis  therby  suppois  it  con- 
fund  hym  bot  larges  gettis  all  tyme  frendis  and  help  y  is  the 
techar  of  all  vertu  in  this  warlde  Heirfor  ane  fre  liberal  hert 
quhairin  nobilnes  inhabitis  sulde  noght  be  scars  and  haldand  bot 
blithar  and  mair  iocund  to  gif  than  to  tak  |  for  larges  releuis  and 
succuris  a  man  [p.  3]  and  scarsness  interditis  nobilitie  |  gud  deid  is 
sic  that  g[.  .  .]  will  y  it  be  reuardit  Heirfor  be  larges  the  gud 
departis  cumis  again  Gud  deid  tinis  neuer  it  self  in  na  tyme  bot 
sa  mekill  as  it  dois  redoundis  agan  to  his  maistir  for  larges  heris 
y  standard  vpon  all  reutis  that  is  the  techar  of  all  vertues  in  this 
warld  O  nobill  man  y  riche  man  y  lattis  honour  for  expensis  | 
gudis  faillis  him  and  all  schift  in  hym  confoundis  Be  larges  the 
hertis  of  men  ar  sene  and  vndirstande  y  is  y  techer  of  all  vertuis 
in  this  warld. 

The  levynt  vertu  in  nobill  man  is  sobirnes  Quhen  gud  desire 
that  intendis  to  ascend  and  cum  to  hyght  puttis  the  thoght  to  cum 
to  honour  than  sulde  ane  man  haulde  and  reul  hym  sobirly  and 
escheu  distemperance  of  wyne  and  heit  that  turnys  gud  avise  in 
foly  greuis  strenth  |  dois  wrang  and  hurtis  y  natur  troublis  the 
peace  movis  discord  |  and  levis  all  thing  vnperfite  Bot  quhay  J;' 
will  draw  sobirnes  to  hym  scho  is  helplie  of  litill  applesit  help  of 
the  wittis  wache  to  hele  keper  of  y  body  and  contynewal  lynthare 


58      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

of  the  lif  |  for  to  excesse  thair  may  neuir  cum  gud  nor  profit  nor 
body  nor  lif  is  neuir  the  bettir  And  sa  it  tynis  all  maner  con- 
tinence |  voce  |  Aynd  |  lynthenes  and  coloure  a  glutoun  all  way  has 
sum  seiknes  or  sorow  he  is  heuy  fat  and  foule  his  lif  schortis  and 
his  ded  approchis.  Thair  is  na  man  y  beualis  or  menys  a  man  gif 
he  dravis  him  nocht  to  sobirnes  as  scho  y  all  men  plesis  |  help  of 
the  wittis  wache  of  y  hele  keper  of  the  body  and  lynthar  of  the 
lif  And  he  that  can  reull  his  mouth  that  is  vschare  to  y  hert  | 
now  sulde  he  cum  to  knawlege  to  haue  guyding  of  gret  thingis  | 
glutony  all  way  leuys  hie  honour  and  graith  is  allanerly  dede  to 
[p.  4]  hym  self  |  ane  ful  wame  is  neuer  at  eas  bot  slepand  |  for  othir 
thingis  he  neuer  thinkis  |  dois  nor  dremis  |  bot  sobirnes  gyffis  all 
thingis  in  sufficience.  And  to  al  thinge  that  virtu  is  for  scho  is 
help  of  y  wittis  wach  to  y  hele  kepar  of  y  body  and  lynther  of 
the  life. 

The  XII  vertu  in  ane  nobill  man  is  perseverance. 

O  Excellent  hie  and  godly  vertu  my*ty  quene  |  and  |  lady  perse- 
verance y  makis  perfit  fulfillis  and  endis  all  thingis  for  quhay  J>* 
kepis  thy  faith  full  and  trew  techinge  |  fyndis  without  stop  y  way 
of  louynge  |  peas  and  sufficienz  |  thow  ourecumis  all  thing  be  thy 
secure  Constance  that  tiris  never  to  suffre.  Thou  ourcumis  Wanhap 
y  passis  fortune  and  in  all  placis  scho  gyffis  to  y  victory.  Thou 
be  resone  thou  gettis  the  crowne  quhen  all  vertuis  gyffis  to  y  ouir- 
hand  and  be  thy  gidyng  cumis  to  hie  louing.  Thay  sulde  weil 
adoure  y  as  lady  maistres  and  patrone  sen  y  end  makis  al  thinge 
to  be  louit.  Thou  art  scho  y  examinis  al  vertus  as  y  goulde 
chesis  out  y  fynit  herto's  in  treuth  and  leaute  be  thy  humyl  suffer- 
ance And  quhay  y  to  y  assuris  and  deliveris  him  selfe.  Thou 
rasis  him  quhen  he  is  to  fall  And  giffis  him  sustenance  and  com- 
fort bot  J?e  febil  hert  castyn  in  variance  spillis  and  tynis  in  schort 
space  all  y  it  dois  inuy  brekis  sik  folkis  that  want  vertu  in  defalt 
of  fathe  tyris  thame,  and  honour  habandonis  thame  thay  ar  punist 
Lady  god  y  for  gude  men  has  gude  y  to  gude  attendis.  And  al 
noblys  ]?*  seikis  to  hie  worschip  gife  thay  be  wise  and  will  awowe 
to  serve  y  |  sen  y  ende  makis  al  warkis  to  be  louit  he  dois  nathing 
y  begynnis  and  endis  noght  And  y  in  his  warkis  inclynis  him  to 
variance.  Quhen  J?e  wark  is  hie  worithy  and  louable  gif  y  vndir 
taking  turn  [p.  5]  not  to  perfait  end  his  labour  passis  as  at  noght 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      59 

at  .  .  .  manys  out  of  remembrance  and  Y  is  atour  mesure  repreif 
and  schame  |  for  thair  a  man  tynis  his  name  and  his  science,  and 
his  endis  incontinent  ar  tynt  and  gais  to  noght.  Bot  quhar  that 
with  right  ordanys  and  auisis  his  doingis  and  to  a  perffit  end  in 
treuth  and  laute  perfurnysis  than  his  gudis  than  makis  tham  to  be 
amendid  and  ekit  And  thay  Y  incontynent  and  haisty  yield  is 
tham  to  fortune  Y  is  to  aduersite  may  fur  with  dasauow  nobilnes 
sen  Y  en(^e  m  &H  thingis  makis  the  warkis  to  be  louit.  O  nobil 
man  thay  ar  noblis  that  dispendis  thair  body  and  gudis  in  treuth 
and  laute  |  and  defendis  thair  lorde  noght  lousande  j>°  right  knot 
of  thair  faith  een  the  ende  makis  all  warkis  to  be  louit. 

Nobles  report  your  raatynis  in  this  buke 

And  wysely  luk  ye  be  not  contrefeit 
Nor  to  retrete  sen  leaute  seikis  na  nuke 

And  God  forsuke  breuily  for  to  treit 

Al  that  fals  ar  and  noblis  contrefeit. 

Heir  endis  the  porteus  of  noblenes  translatit  out  of  (Fr)anche  in 
Scottis  be  maistir  Androw  Ladion 

Impren(t)it  at  Y  South  gait  of  Edinburgh  be  Walter  Chepman 
Androw  Millor  the  xx  dai  of  aperile  the  yhere  of  God  (m)ccccc 
and  viii  yheris. 

The  principal  prose  works  which  were  written  after  1508  have 
been  edited  and  published  so  that  they  are  now  comparatively  easy 
of  access.  The  first  and  most  considerable  was  the  translation  of 
the  first  five  books  of  Livy,  made  for  JamesV  by  John  Bellenden, 
Archdeacon  of  Moray  and  Ross.  It  is  probable  that  this  was  never 
printed  by  any  early  Scottish  press,  and  the  MS.  in  which  the  work 
has  been  preserved  is  thought  to  be  a  transcript  of  the  original :  it 
is  marked  Adv.  Libr.  18-3-12  (a-7-8).  This  was  edited  and  pub- 
lished in  Edinburgh  in  1822,  the  only  edition  which  has  been 
printed.  From  the  Introduction  to  this  edition  it  is  learned  that 
the  translation  was  made  in  1533. 

Bellenden's  other  work,  the  Croniclis,  was  a  translation  into 
Scottish  of  Boece's  Scotor-um  Historiae  a  prima  gentis  origine,  &c, 
and  like  the  Livy,  was  made  for  JamesV.  The  latest  authority 
says  that  this  was  printed  in  1542,  although  the  copies  extant 
printed  by  Davidson  are  not  dated.1    The  three  volume  edition, 

1  Ann.  Scot.  Print.,  pp.  123-133,  with  facsimiles. 

V      OP  THS^^ 


pJTIVHRSITY! 


60      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

edited  by  Thomas  Maitland  in  1821,  is  the  only  one  now  easily 
accessible. 

The  language  of  Bellenden's  prose  differs  in  the  Livy  from  that 
of  the  Croniclis ;  while  both  translations  are  free,  the  Croniclis 
seem  to  have  been  more  influenced  by  latin  constructions,  and  the 
Livy  is  a  much  better  sample  of  the  vernacular.  It  is  possible 
that  English  printers  may  have  changed  the  forms  of  many  words 
in  the  Croniclis  as  was  the  case  with  the  first  printed  tracts,1  and 
that  the  Livy,  remaining  in  manuscript,  gives  a  truer  idea  of 
Bellenden's  style. 

The  next  literary  prose  work  was  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland. 
Dr.  Murray's  treatment  of  the  language,  authorship  and  printing 
of  this  rare  book,  in  his  introduction  to  the  edition  for  the  Early 
English  Text  Society,  1872,  left  little  or  nothing  to  be  added  by 
the  authors  of  the  Annals  of  Scottish  Printing,  who  regard  the 
authorship  as  an  open  question  and  repeat  Dr.  Murray's  theory 
that  the  book  was  printed  in  France.  When  one  considers  care- 
fully the  arguments  made  by  Dr.  Leyden,  the  first  editor  of 
the  Complaynt  for  the  authorship  of  Sir  David  Lyndesay,  one 
rather  wonders  why  no  critic  since  his  time  has  thought  those 
arguments  worthy  of  further  comment  in  detail.  Dr.  Leyden 
indeed  disarmed  much  later  criticism  in  his  frank  avowal  of 
purpose  in  the  Scot's  Magazine  for  July,  1802,  where  he 
endeavors  to  answer  certain  criticisms  of  his  Dissertation  to  the 
1  Complaynt/  which  were  made  in  the  same  journal  for  January 
of  that  year.  His  object  in  writing  the  i  Dissertation '  or  Intro- 
duction was  rather  to  stimulate  enquiry  than  to  hold  obstinately 
to  any  one  theory,  such  as  that  of  Lyndesay's  authorship.  Dr. 
Leyden's  early  collation  of  parallel  passages  from  Lyndesay  and 
the  ' Complaynt'  has  not  received  the  consideration  it  deserves, 
and  without  committing  oneself  to  an  opinion  regarding  the  author- 
ship, one  must  admit  a  degree  of  analogy  between  passages  in  the 
€  Complaynt '  and  in  Lyndesay  that  could  hardly  have  been  for- 
tuitous. Until  other  sources  for  the  'Monarch^'  for  example  have 
been  adduced,  it  is  not  improbable  to  regard  the  ' Complaynt'  as 
the  inspiring  motive,  if  not  the  original  source,  of  the  related 
passages  and  paraphrases  in  Lyndesay's  work. 

1  v.  Introduction  to  Livy  and  Dr.  Schipper,  Dunbar,  I,  19. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      61 

In  its  language  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland  has  been  regarded 
as  an  ' extreme  specimen  of  the  Frenchified  style'  (Murray,  Dial. 
South.  Countries,  p.  64).  There  are  some  words  in  the  book  which 
correspond  to  the  sixteenth  century  French  forms  that  have  not  been 
discovered  in  any  other  Middle  Scottish  writer ;  they  form,  however, 
a  small  proportion  of  those  Romance  words  which  have  been  selected 
as  ultra-gallicisms  in  the  Introduction  to  the  Complaynt  (E.  E.  T.S., 
1872,  p.  civ).  The  rest  of  these  are  not  peculiar  to  the  *  Complaynt/ 
but  from  their  common  use  and  the  differences  in  their  spelling  may 
be  regarded  as  naturalized  words,  whose  first  appearance  it  would  be 
hazardous  to  date,  even  approximately.  Thus  we  find  in  Hay's  MS. 
and  the  Bukeofthe  Ordre  of  Knychthede  such  words  as  the  following : 
with  cautelis  and  subtiliteis,  p.  47  (B.  of  O.  K.),  glore  celestiall 
54,  contrair  10,  convenable  32,  esperaunce  19,  exercisioun  3, 
ordanyt  fynable  3,  to  quhat  fyne  15,  hautane,  haultane  52,  joly 
polist  corps  48,  he  is  nouthir  lache  na  jit  cowart  50,  lachesse  49, 
leautee  9,  lawtee  55,  vnlautee  9,  maleesy  persones  46,  menge  8, 
menze  46,  moble  gudes  26,  moyen  41,  misfaris  misdoers  46,  myster- 
full,  myster,  mister  43,  noblese  3,  orquillouse  27,  orqueill  52,  preaux 
meadows  4,  remede  24,  semblaunce  4,  supple  assistance  21. 

It  is  true  that  the  exact  extent  of  Hay's  borrowing  will  not  be 
apparent  until  his  most  considerable  work,  the  Buhe  of  Bataillis, 
and  the  French  original  have  been  carefully  compared.  From  the 
few  extracts  at  present  available  (see  above,  p.  71),  his  vocabulary 
does  not  seem  to  have  introduced  many  new  words. 

In  comparing  the  French  element  in  the  'Acts'  with  that  in  the 
'Complaynt,'  the  novelty  of  many  words  in  the  latter  wears  off.  In 
linguistic  study  of  the  'Acts,'  however,  the  age  and  exact  content 
of  the  several  manuscripts  must  be  more  clearly  at  hand  before 
results  can  be  much  more  than  approximate.  Thus  there  are  two 
MSS.  of  late  fourteenth  century,  one  early  fifteenth,  four  late  fif- 
teenth, two  early  sixteenth,  and  so  on.1  In  the  face  of  this  apparent 
lack  of  evidence  contemporary  with  the  date  of  a  statute,  there  occur 
many  French  words  in  the  'Acts'  preserving  the  Old  French  form 
and  at  once  suggesting  the  Middle  English  equivalent.  In  the 
following  examples,  when  not  otherwise  referred,  the  first  figure 

1  The  New  English  Dictionary  dates  a  Scottish  word  from  the  statute  in  which 
it  occurs. 


62      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

notes  the  page,  the  second  the  column  and  the  third  the  date  of 
statute.  The  references  are  to  the  first  edition  of  the  'Acts'  by 
Robertson  (Records  of  the  Scot.  Parliament). 

assouerance  38, 1, 1456  ;  censment  (of  parliament)  496, 1,  1503 ; 
chalance  (claim  and  — )  233,  1,  1478;  'gif  J>e  trespas  be  done  of 
sudane  chautmellay  14, 1, 1425 ;  chevisance  (agreement)  10,  2, 1424 ; 
costage,  coistage  9,  1,  1424 ;  consuetude  55,  1,  1474 ;  emplesance 
(pleasure)  49,  2, 1469;  escusateoun  (excuse)  11,1, 1423;  exercitioun 
625,  1, 1540;  expreyme  36,  1, 1454;  forfautouris  (forfeiters)  11, 1, 
1423;  friuole,  Acts,  Jac.  IV,  1503,  cap.  35,  499,  1,  1503;  galais 
(common  word  for  ships)  70,  1, 1429;  gener  (vb.  'to  cause/  'effect') 
13,  1,  1424;  gratiose  (gracious)  62,  1,  1425;  'priuilege  and  ane 
indult  perpetuale'  235,  1,  1469;  ische  (sb.  issue)  204,  1,  1476; 
joiss  (enjoy)  13,  2,  1425;  lawte,  lawty  491,  2,  1503;  'schawingis 
and  monstouris'  625,  1,  1540;  myster  4,  2  (= '  need/  undated, 
preceding  an  Act  of  King  William),  nevoy  (nephew)  697,  2, 1546  ; 
nevo,  160,  2,  1471;  notour  (notorious)  11,  1,  1423;  parochine 
(parish)  600,  2, 1535  ;  peax  (peace)  200,  2, 1475  ;  '  under  a  certane 
payne  peccuniar'  14,  2,  1425;  peremptour  ('summondis  — ')  40, 
2,  1457 ;  plane  (open)  court  23,  1,  1429 ;  plesance  (pleasure)  52, 
2,  1471 ;  punysion  (common  word  for  punishment)  64,  2,  1426  ; 
'  courtis  of  purprusioun  '  268,  1,  1481  ;  querallis  63,  1,  1425  ; 
querchy  (oak),  'a  white  wand  of — '  66,  2,  1426  ;  seige  (see) ;  soy- 
tour  (suitor)  200,  2, 1476  ;  taxatouris,  tax  men  10,  1, 1424  ;  travell, 
labour  18,  1,  1426 ;  '  walour/  value  of  the  mone  9,  2,  1474  (cf. 
'strenth,  valew  or  effec/  158,  2,  1471). 

Without  multiplying  examples  it  is  quite  evident  from  the  use 
and  form  of  these  words  that  they  were  part  of  the  usual  legal  lan- 
guage, which  wras  common  to  the  people  in  their  gatherings  around 
the  '  Mercat  Croce/  where  the  new  laws  were  made  known  and  dis- 
cussed. The  influences  exerted  by  continental  law  upon  the  Scottish 
codes,  if  one  may  so  call  them,  were  active  before  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, and  at  a  time  when  Scotch  law  differentiated  from  the  English 
Common  law.  One  is  thus  brought  to  a  period  when  any  French 
forms  incorporated  into  the  language  would  differ  very  little  from 
those  in  more  southern  English,  and  these  words,  continuing  in 
Scottish  long  after  they  had  ceased  to  be  used  farther  soutlj,  would 
thus  appear  at  first  to  be  importations  from  later  contemporary 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      63 

French.  Such  words  are  found  in  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland  to  a 
considerable  degree,  and,  while  by  no  means  making  up  the  whole 
number  of  French  forms,  they  go  far  to  detract  from  the  author  of 
the  '  Complaynt  ?  the  suspicion  of  conscious  borrowing. 

The  following  words  are  of  this  nature,  and  they  may  be  com- 
pared in  form  and  use,  with  their  Middle  English  cognates.  The 
references  are  to  the  edition  for  the  E.  E.  T.  S.  by  page. 

agrest  16,  arrage  125,  alman  66,  antecestres  108,  auanse  1,  bar- 
bir  4,  bayrdit  69,  brodrut  69,  beaulte"  70,  bestiall  adj.  64,  boreaus, 
borreaus   27,  86,  borage   67,  borrel,  brangland   68,  bruit   116, 
butin   146,  caduc  170,  cakil,  carions  119,  cauteil,  adj.  and  sb. 
celeste  64,  chenjeis  114,  chestee  19,  citinaris  11,  clair  70,  cleir  73, 
clips  56,  conqueise  80,  corbie  181,  consuetude  87,  compeir  114, 
conjuris  133,  conspiration  113,  contrair  prep,  and  adj.  77,  convoyit 
4,  cordinar  10,  cronic  3,  coulpe,/aw#  155,  curtician  133,  dantit  21, 
devoir,  devour  (distroy,  overcome)  2,  domage  5,  devot  4,  dificil  130, 
discrive  32,  disiune,  breakfast  43,  dechayis  9,  discumfeist  77,  drog 
drug  81,  pulce  64,  efferand  56,  empeschis  99,  ensenje  149,  eschet 
133,  eschaip  37,  esperance  70,  estime  165,  evertion  1,  euoir  20, 
facil  15,  fardit  16  (?  while  this  word  is  not  uncommon  in  Scotch  in 
the  sense  of  l  painted '  the  meaning  here  l  to  embellish '  is  suspi- 
ciously like  that  in  Amyot,  Dion.  27,  quoted  by  Littre,  s.  v.  'elo- 
quent a  in  venter  des  raisons  fardees  des  paroles  honeste '),  falset 
181,  fasson  69,  felloun  39,  feltrit  tangled,  dishevelled  68,  fenjeit 
35,  ferme  59,  fleuris  171,  fleurise  38,  forrai  114,  fosses  113,  freuole 
183,  fumeterre  67,  fyne,  end  2,  galmound  66,  galjard  66,  garni- 
son  5,  genner  153,  gentrice  128,  glar  68,  gloire  170,  glore  143, 
gre  134,  habitis,  clothes  163,  heritour,  heir  3,  ingyne  4,  impor- 
tabil;  langage  16,  lasche  146,  maculat  150,  manneis  vb.  102,  mel 
vb.  15,  merle  39,  misericorde  72,  mistir  36,  moyens  41,  muis  113, 
neureis  123,  nevo  76,  nouvellis  119,  oultraige  186,  pailjeons  60 
(<  gael.  pailliun?),  pape,  pope  165,  pastance  64,  paveis,  shields  41, 
pissance,  puissance  7,  popil,  poplar  tree  57,  plat,  flat  70,  port, 
gate  131,   potent,  staff,  gibbet   182,   prettik    14,  propir,  personal 
adj.  163,  punition  27,  puldir  21,  rammel  37,  rasche  vb.,  tear  up 
125,  remeid  34,  reprocha  sb.  127,  reu,  street  182,  reuis  76,  roy  63, 
rotche,  rock  38,  roche  99,  scarmouche  114  (but  not  escarmuschis 
6,  escarmouchis  79),  scisma  160,  seige  5,  sege  77,  see,  seat;  solist 


64      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

adj.  9,  sollempne  121,  sopit  37,  spulge  89,  stablit  19,  succur, 
sugar  145,  tassis,  cups  76,  turkes  sing,  (not  turques),  pinchers  10, 
vaig  vb.,  wander  111,  vilite  170,  vol  ye,  oil  161,  vollage,  fickle  22. 

These  words  should  be  distinguished  from  those  which  seem  to 
be  peculiar  to  the  sixteenth  century  Scottish,  and  which  are  only 
found  in  the  Complaynt  and  in  some  cases  in  Sir  David  Lyndesay. 
It  is  misleading  to  include  them  in  a  category  with  the  latter  class, 
and  tends  to  magnify  the  influences  of  the  "  French  of  the  day."  * 

The  following  words  seem  indeed  to  have  been  adapted  by  the 
author  of  the  Complaynt  from  contemporary  French.  Where  a  word 
has  been  found  elsewhere  only  in  Lyndesay  it  is  followed  by  L. 

austral  49,  bersis,  cannon  41,  bestialite,  cattle  43,  charpentier 
10,  coagulis,  contempil  34,  contenu  23,  contigue  4  (Jamieson  gives 
another  example  for  1532),  conferris,  compares  28,  curtician,  cour- 
tier 133  L.,  deesse,  goddess  11,  dediet,  dedicated  7,  dispensatour 
158,  dominatour  79,  dotit,  endowed  10,  empire,  empyrean  48, 
escarmouschis  6,  fardit  16,  in  sense  of  i embellish '  or  'disguised/ 
v.  Littr6;  flume,  phlegm  67,  gazophile,  treasury,  maltalent,  ill 
will  22,  niarbyr,  marble  129,  marynel,  sailor  10,  matutine  38  L., 
misprisis,  dispises  28,  obfusquis,  darkens  56,  olymp  3,  perdur- 
able 20,  plasmatour,  creator  27  L.,  prochane  4  L.,  pulce,  push 
139,  rammasche,  collected,  flocked  together  38,  regement  2  L., 
repreme,  repress  154,  rencontrit,  rondellis,  shields  42,  salut,  welfare 
72,  sapiens  43  L.,  seremons  7,  seicle,  century  4,  suppreme,  suppress 
158,  suspires,  sighs  vb.  70,  traduction  10,  vermeil  37,  zelatur  76. 

The  occurrence  of  French  words  which  are  common  to  the  Com- 
playnt and  to  Lyndesay  may  be  considered  in  connection  with  those 
resemblances  in  matter  which  have  been  noticed  before  (p.  117). 
If  we  are  to  assume  that  either  author  introduced  these  words  into 
the  language,  it  will  be  very  difficult  to  determine  upon  which 
author  their  introduction  depended,  or  which  influenced  the  other 

1 "  The  literary  Scotch  of  the  16th  Century  teems  with  French  words,  not 
derived  through  the  Norman  channel,  like  the  French  words  in  English ; — but 
taken  direct  from  the  French  of  the  day.  As  might  be  expected  from  the  French 
sympathies  of  its  author,  the  Complaynt  exhibits  this  French  element  to  an  enor- 
mous extent,  not  merely  to  supply  the  want  of  native  terms,  but  in  preference  to 
words  of  native  origin,  as  when  contrar  is  preferred  to  against,  esperance  to  hope, 
reus  to  streets,  bestial  to  cattle,  verite  to  truth."  Murray,  Introduction  to  Complaynt, 
p.  civ. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600,       65 

in  the  way  of  borrowing.  If  passages  in  the  Complaynt  (1 549)  be 
considered  the  source  of  similar  passages  in  the  Monarch^  (1554), 
then  one  is  warranted  in  looking  upon  the  Complaynt  as  having 
influenced  Lyndesay  in  his  choice  of  words.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  Complaynt  echoes  much  that  was  previously  written  by 
Lyndesay. 

The  Complaynt  shows  many  homely  words  of  Saxon  origin, 
and  the  relative  use  of  English  and  Romance  words  is  not  very 
different  from  that  in  more  southern  English.  In  elevated  and 
metaphysical  themes  the  proportion  of  French  and  Latin  words  is 
large;  cf.  p.  1,  total  words  169,  Romance  63  ;  p.  2,  total  307,  Rom. 
87.  Popular  subjects  require  less ;  cf.  p.  59,  total  361,  Rom.  51 ; 
p.  52,  total  350,  Rom.  50;  p.  43,  total  330,  Rom.  59.  The 
percentage  of  all  French  words  in  the  Complaynt  (counting  as 
French,  Latin  and  Greek  words  in  French  form,  proper  names  in 
French  form  and  all  other  words  of  Romance  origin)  is  .193,  or 
about  one-fifth. 


Manuscripts. 

In  connection  with  Lyndesay's  name  may  be  considered  those 
prose  remains,  which  have  been  attributed  to  him  and  to  others. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  about  his  authorship  of  the  Heraldic  MS., 
preserved  in  the  Advocates'  Library,  and  which  has  been  repro- 
duced in  facsimile.1  Unfortunately  the  prose  text  of  this  MS.  is  in 
short  and  detached  quantity,  and  unsatisfactory  for  linguistic  study. 
Some  idea  of  the  language  may  be  had  from  the  extracts  here  given. 

Fol.  3  (arms  of),  pe  rycht  potent  prince  Preist  Jhone,  Empriour 
of  the  greit  Ynde. 

Fol.  4.  pe  armys  oif  the  thre  kyngis  of  the  orient,  quhilkis 
maid  the  first  offerent  till  our  Saluatour  Crist  iesu,  callit  the  thre 
kingis  off  Collene. 

Fol.  7.  Heir  followis  the  Armys  off  J>e  nyne  maist  nobill  off  ]>e 
quhilkis  ];air  wes  thre  Jowis,  as  Dauid,  Josue,  and  Judas  Macha- 
beus,  thre  gentiles,  &c. 

1  Sir  David  Lyndesay :  Ancient  Heraldic  MSS.  emblazoned  1542.  Edited  by 
David  Laing.    Published  by  Wm.  Paterson,  Edinburgh,  1878. 


66      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Fol.  19.  pe  armis  quhilkis  Schir  Johne  Balioll  bair  or  he  was 
crovvnit  king  of  Scotland  ;  quha  for  his  homage  making  to  Eduard 
Longschankis  king  of  Ingland  contrair  the  aviss  of  J?e  connsale  off 
Scotland,  and  resigning  of  ]>e  croune  in  his  handis,  was  deprivit 
of  j>e  croune,  and  thairefter  past  in  France,  quhair  he  miserabilly 
decessit  blynd. 

Fol.  20.  Heir  folio wys  J>e  armys  of  J?e  noble  princes  Sanct 
Margaret  qweyn  of  Scotland,  dochter  to  Edward  prince  and  here- 
tour  to  Ingland,  and  of  Agatha  dochter  to  Salomone  King  of 
Wngarie  and  spouss  to  J?e  rycht  noble  prince  king  malcum  Can- 
mor  to  quhome  scho  bair  vj  soneis,  Eduard  Edmound  Etheldreid 
Edgar  Alex'r,  and  David  Call  it  Sanctus  y  succedit  to  ]>e  croune, 
and  tua  tochteris  Mauld,  spousit  with  hery  beauclerk  king  of  ing- 
land and  mary  spousit  wfc  Eustachius  erle  of  bollonye. 

Fol.  22.  Heir  followys  )?e  armys  off  certaine  noble  ladys  queynes 
of  Scotland  sen  J?e  nobyll  suirname  of  ]>e  Stewartis  succedit  to  ]>e 
croun  of  Scotland  In  J?e  first  Robert  )>e  secound  of  J>at  name  ]>e 
first  King  of  the  noble  Stewartis,  spousit  twa  lady  is  J>e  first  wes 
Effem  dochter  to  ]>e  Erie  of  Ross,  quhilk  bair  to  him  twa  soneis, 
Walter  erle  off  Athole,  and  Dauid  Erie  of  Stratherne,  and  ane 
dochter  callit  Effem,  spousit  with  James  Douglas,  sone  and  air  to 
William  Erie  of  Douglas.  Efter  )>e  decess  of  this  foirnamyt  lady 
he  spousit  Elizabeth  dochter  to  ane  noble  Knight  Schir  Adam 
Mwir,  quhilk  bair  to  him  or  he  wes  first  maryit  thre  soneis  quhilkis 
he  reablit,  J?e  first  wes  Jhone  quhilk  succedit  to  J?e  croune,  quhais 
name  wes  changit  and  callit  Robert,  ]>e  secund  callit  Robert  dwk 
of  Albany  and  gouernour  of  Scotland,  J?e  thrid  Alexander  erle 
of  Buquhane  and  lord  off  Badjenoch  and  twa  dochteris,  ane 
maryit  with  Jhone  Dunbar  quhilk  efter  wes  erle  of  Murray,  ane 
other  maryit  with  Jhone  Lyone,  of  quhom  succedit  J>e  houss  of 
Glamys,  etc. 

Fol.  66.  Gyf  ony  mane  wald  demand  J?e  causs  quhy  J?e  armis  of 
J?ame  quhilkis  bene  foirfaltit  and  banisit  for  crymes  of  lesemaieste, 
and  vtheris  enormeteis,  ar  incert  and  registrat  in  this  present  buik, 
and  put  in  memory,  alsweill  as  J?e  armis  of  fara  quhilkis  hes  bene 
euir  haill  and  trew  till  J>e  crowne  and  commoneweill :  It  is  to  be 
vnderstand  that  J?e  samyn  is  done  for  thre  causis ;  The  first  causs  is 
to  j>e  grit  honour  and  lowing  of  yhour  nobill  predecessouris  quhilkis 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.       67 

be  )>air  valjeant  and  honerabill  dedis  and  guide  service  done  to 
princis  wer  begynnaris  and  conquerom  of  }?aire  nobill  Houssis  The 
secund  causs  is  to  J?e  gryt  scham  ande  Dishonour  of  J>am  quhilkis 
be  J?air  tresonabill  Dedis  wer  forefaltit  and  condamnit  be  j?e  Law 
and  tynt  all  ]?at  J;air  nobill  pralecessoum  hed  wyne  of  befoir  The 
thryd  causs  is  )>at  nobill  mene  behaldand  ]>e  armis  of  }>am  quhilkis 
ar  forfaltit  may  inquire  and  considder  ]>e  caussis  and  tak  exempill 
to  eschew  in  tyme  corayng  sic  exorbitant  transgression  is  againis 
J?air  princes  in  auentuir  J>ai  incur  siclyk  punisch merit  to  ]>air  per- 
petuell  scham  and  distructioun  of  J?air  nobill  Houssis. 

Of  the  other  MS.  on  Heraldry,  formerly  assigned  to  Sir  David 
Lyndesay,  some  notice  must  here  be  taken.  "  He  left  behind 
him,"  says  Dr.  Murray,  "  some  tracts  on  heraldry."  l  What  these 
were  is  not  specified  and  one  can  only  conjecture  that  the  reference 
is  to  the  manuscript  in  the  Advocates'  Library,  which  has  the  title: 

Collectanea :  Domini  |  Davidis  Lindssay  Mounthe  Leonis  Armo- 
rum  Regis,  31,  3,  20  (W.  4,  13). 

This  MS.,  a  folio  volume  of  86  leaves,  paper,  in  Scotch,  was 
described  by  Dr.  Leyden  in  his  Dissertation,  pp.  54-71 ;  106, 107; 
and  copious  extracts  were  given.  Otherwise  the  MS.  has  never 
been  printed.  Dr.  Leyden  believed  the  author  to  be  Sir  David 
Lyndesay,  the  poet,  and  this  theory  was  repeated  in  the  MS.  cata- 
logue in  the  Advocates'  Library.  Dr.  Laing  thought  that  the  MS. 
was  later  than  the  time  of  Lyndesay,  the  poet,  and  ascribed  it  to 
Sir  David  Lyndesay,  the  third ;  but  as  he  was  inaugurated  Lyon 
King  on  the  2d  of  May,  1592,  and  we  find  on  the  first  leaf  of  the 
MS.  the  date  '  11.  octr.  1586/  it  seems  more  probable  to  connect 
the  MS.  with  Sir  David  Lyndesay  of  Rathellet,  who  succeeded 
Robert  Stewart  as  Lyon  King  on  Aug.  22,  1568.  An  autograph 
of  "David  Lyndesay"  is  found  on  p.  61,  near  the  bottom,  written 
in  the  same  hand  and  ink  as  the  MS.  In  a  paler  yellow  than  the 
MS.  on  verso  of  fol.  1,  we  find  : 

"tak  head  blind  courteours,  Nichil  rerum  mortalium  tam  insta- 
ble ac  fluxum  est  quam  fama  potentic  non  sua  vi  iuxse." 

The  following  table  of  contents  is  taken  from  the  MS.  catalogue 
in  the  Advocates'  Library. 

1  Minor  Poems  of  Lyndesay,  E.  E.  T.  S.,  1871,  no.  47,  p.  xxxix. 


68      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

I.  An  award  of  the  Constable  of  France  regarding  the  pre- 
cedency of  Heralds  and  Serjants  at  arms  1447  (The  date  of  the 
original). 

II.  Rules  for  combats,  fol.  1,  verso. 

III.  The  Lawe  of  arms  within  Lists,  fol.  4. 

IV.  The  ordinance  and  manner  howe  tournayis  wes  wont  to  be 
maid,  and  the  harnes  for  knychts  and  squyaris,  fol.  9. 

V.  of  Harralds  and  Pursuevants  and  what  perteinis  them  to 
do  quhen  princes  and  lordis  are  assemblit  on  the  feild,  fol.  10. 

VI.  The  manner  how  harralds  should  knaw  of  obsequies,, 
fol.  11. 

VII.  How  a  chief  shuld  govern  him  in  battall,  fol.  13. 

VIII.  The  Offices  of  Constable,  marischal  and  other  officers  of 
Arms,  fol.  14. 

The  Duties  of  Heralds;  and  a  treatise  for  their  instruction^ 
wherein  of  the  colours,  ordinaries  and  bearings  of  coat  armour 
and  their  significatioun — the  invention  of  armes,  the  blasoning  of 
arms,  &c,  fol.  16. 

IX.  Liber  Armorum.  How  gentlemen  sal  be  knawin  frome 
churles — of  knighthood  and  gentlemen — of  coats  of  arms  and 
their  blasoning,  fol.  55. 

X.  "The  buke  of  the  Ordour  of  Chivalrie"  in  a  dialogue 
between  a  wise  Kuight  turned  Hermit,  and  a  squire,  fol.  61. 

XL  An  extract  of  Vegetius'  'de  re  militari/  translated  into 
Inglis,  fol.  82. 

XII.  of  the  Coronation  of  the  Emperor,  fol.  86. 

XIII.  at  the  end  is — 'The  aithe  of  a  Knycht — of  ane  Erie — 
of  ane  Duik— of  ane  Herauld.' 

In  the  plan  of  this  work  we  are  again  reminded  of  the  common 
type  of  didactic  treatises,  such  as  were  translated  by  Hay,  Caxton 
and  it  may  be,  by  the  author  of  the  Buk  of  Luf  That  the  resem- 
blance may  be  most  marked,  No.  X,  '  The  buke  of  the  Ordour  of 
Chivalrie  •  has  been  transcribed  from  the  MS.  (fol.  facing  fol.  62), 
and  it  may  be  compared  with  the  versions  of  Caxton  and  Hay. 
Dr.  Laing,  in  editing  Hay's  *  Buke/  thought  that  this  MS.  version 
was  a  Scotch  adaptation  of  Caxton's  Book  of  the  Ordre  of  Chyvalry 
or  Knyghthode  (p.  xvi),  and  the  differences  are  so  slight  that  this 
view  seems  correct. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      69 

Heir  followis  pe  first  chep  |  tour  how  pe  gude  heremite  |  devysit 
to  pe  squyer  the  rewle  and  ordor  of  cheualrie. 

Thair  wes  ane  cuntrey  in  pe  qlk  It  happinit  pat  ane  wyse  Knyt 
qlk  hed  mentenit  pe  ordom  of  chevalrije  and  pat  wi*  fors  and 
noblesse  of  his  hie  curaige  and  wisdome  And  in  auenturing  his 
body  had  mantenit  warm  Justis  and  tournais  And  becaus  he  saw 
and  that  in  his  curaige  pat  he  myt  not  lang  leif  as  he  qlk  be  lang 
tyme  had  bene  be  courss  of  nator  nih  unto  his  end  cheisit  to  him 
ane  heremitage  for  nator  faillit  in  him  be  aige  and  had  na  power 
nor  vertew  to  vse  armes  as  he  wes  wont  to  do  Sua  pat  pan  his 
riches  and  all  his  heritaige  he  left  to  his  childrene  and  maid  his 
habitatioun  or  dwelling  place  in  a  gret  wood  aboundand  of  watteris 
and  of  gret  treis  and  hie  bering  fruttis  of  diverss  maneris,  and  fled 
pe  warld  becaus  pat  pe  febilnes  of  his  body  in  pe  qlk  he  wes  be 
auld  aige  fallin  and  pat  he  dishonorit  not  pat  qlk  in  honorable 
thingis  and  eventuris  had  bene  lang  tyme  honorit  The  same  knyt 
thinkand  on  pe  deth  remembring  pe  depairting  frome  pis  warld 
into  pat  vpir  And  also  thofc  of  pe  ryt  redoutable  sentence  of  or  lord 
In  pe  qlk  him  behuuit  to  cum  to  pe  day  of  Jugement  In  ane  pairt 
of  pe  same  wod  was  ane  fair  medow  in  pe  qlk  wes  ane  trie  weill 
ladin  and  chairgit  of  frute  in  his  tyme  off  pe  qlk  pe  knyt  leiffit  in 
pe  forest  And  under  pe  samm  tre  wes  ane  fontaine  verry  fair  and 
cleir  pat  arowsit  and  mowsit  all  pe  medow  And  in  pat  samm 
place  wes  pe  knyt  accustumit  to  cum  every  day  for  to  pray  and 
adoire  god  almigthy  to  quhome  he  randerit  thanking  of  pe  honor 
pat  he  had  done  to  him  in  pis  warld  all  pe  dayis  of  his  Lyfe  In 
pat  tyme  it  happinit  at  pe  entering  of  ane  Strang  winter  pat  ane 
verry  noble  king  wys  and  full  of  noble  customes  send  for  mony 
noblis  becaus  pat  he  wold  hald  ane  grit  court  and  be  pe  grit  renomy 
pat  wes  of  pis  court  It  happinit  pat  ane  squyar  muffit  him  to  go 
thidder  in  Intentioun  pat  pair  he  suld  be  maid  ane  knyt  And  as 
he  went  all  alone  ryding  vpone  his  palfray  Ischit  out  of  pe  ryt  way 
and  enterit  vnto  pe  forrest  he  being  sleping  vpone  his  horss  throw 
pe  grit  travell  he  sustenit  in  his  Journay  In  pe  (bis  fol.  62)  mein- 
tyme  pat  he  raid  sua  sleiping  his  palfray  Uschit  out  of  pe  way  and 
endit  in  pe  forrest  quhair  as  wes  pe  Knyt  heremite  And  so  lang 
he  went  pat  he  came  vnto  pe  fontaine  at  pe  samm  tyme  pat  pe  knyt 
qlk  dwellit  in  pe  wod,  to  do  his  pennaunce  wes  pair  enterin  for  to 


70      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

pray  unto  god  and  for  to  dispyss  f  e  vaniteis  of  fis.  warld  lyk  as  he 
wes  accustumit  every  day  quhen  he  saw  f  e  sqyer  cum  he  left  his 
Orisone  and  sat  in  f  e  medow  in  f  e  schadow  of  ane  tre  and  he  began 
to  reid  vpone  ane  litill  buke  fat  he  had  in  his  lappe  And  quhen 
the  palfray  wes  cum  to  fe  fontane  he  begane  to  drink  And  fe 
squyar  fat  slepit  anone  feld  fat  his  horss  movit  no*  and  lyche 
awalkit  and  fan  to  him  came  f  e  knyt  fat  wes  verry  aulde  and  haid 
ane  grit  lang  berd  and  ane  feble  gowne  worne  and  brokin  for  ower 
lang  wering  and  be  f  e  penance  fat  he  daylie  maid  wes  grittumlie 
discolowrit  and  lene  And  be  f  e  teiris  fat  he  had  wepit  hes  ene 
wer  verray  waistit  and  had  ane  regard  or  countenance  of  muche 
holie  lyfe  Ilkane  of  fame  mervalit  of  vf  ir  for  f  e  knyt  qnhilk  had 
bene  verry  lang  in  f  e  hermitage  had  sene  na  man  sen  he  had  left 
f  e  warld  And  f  e  sqyar  mervalit  him  grytumlie  how  he  wes  cumin 
into  fat  place  Than  discendit  f  e  squyer  fra  his  palfray  and  salust 
fe  Knyt  and  f  e  Knyt  ressauit  him  much  wysly  and  eftir  set  fame 
vpone  f  e  gerss  f  e  ane  besyde  f  e  6]>ir  and  or  ony  of  fame  spake 
Ilkane  of  fame  beheld  vf  eris  cheir  The  Knyt  fat  knew  fat  f e 
squyer  wald  not  speik  first  becaus  fat  he  wald  do  to  him  reverence 
spak  first  and  said  fair  frend  Quhat  is  gor  curaige  or  intent  or 
quhar  go  je  to  quhairfoir  be  je  cumin  hidder  Sr  said  he  the  renoufl 
is  spred  be  far  cuntreis  fat  ane  King  maist  wyss  and  noble  hes 
comandit  ane  generall  court  and  wilbe  maid  him  self  new  Knyt 
and  eftir  will  doub  and  mak  vf  ir  new  knyti's  of  strange  barroneyis 
and  priue  and  f  erfor  I  go  to  fis  court  for  to  be  doubit  Knyt  bot 
quhen  I  wes  in  sleip  for  f e  travell  fat  I  haue  haid  of  f e  grit  Jor- 
nayis  fat  I  haif  maid  my  palfray  went  out  of  f e  ryt  way  and  hes 
bro*  me  vnto  fis  place.  Quhen  f e  Knyt  hard  spek  of  fe  knythed 
and  chevalrie  and  remembrit  him  of  f e  ordor  of  fe  sarm'n  and  of 
fat  qlk  pertenit  to  ane  knyt  he  kest  out  ane  grit  sych  and  enterit 
in  ane  grit  thocht  remembring  of  f  e  honor  in  qlk  chevalrie  haid 
bene  lang  mentenit  In  f e  meinquhyle  fat  fe  knyt  f us  thocht  the 
squyer  deraandit  of  him  quhairof  he  wes  so  pansiffe  And  f  e  knyt 
ansfwrit]  to  him  fair  sone  my  thocht  is  of  f e  ordor  of  knytheid  or 
chevalrie  of  f  e  gritnes  in  f  e  qlk  ane  knyt  is  haldin  in  manteim'ng 
f  e  gritness  of  f  e  honor  of  chevalrie.  Than  f  e  squyer  prayit  f  e  knyt 
fat  he  wald  schaw  to  him  f e  ordor  and  fe  maner  quhairfoir  he 
aucht  f  e  bettir  honor  and  kepit  in  hie  worschip  as  it  aucht  to  be 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      71 

eftir  pe  ordinance  of  God  How  (sone)  said  pe  knyt  knawis  pou  not 
quhat  is  pe  rewle  and  ordor  of  knytheid  And  I  mervale  how  pow 
durst  demand  chevalrie  or  knytheid  vnto  pe  tyme  pat  pou  knaw 
pe  ordor  for  no  knyt  may  knaw  [?Caxton :  love]  pe  ordor  bot  gif 
he  can  knaw  pe  difficulteis  [defaultes :  C]  pat  he  doth  aganis  pe 
ordor  of  cheualrie  nor  no  knyt  aucAt  to  mak  any  knytis  bot  gif 
he  him  self  knaw  pe  ordor  ffor  ane  disordanit  knyt  is  He  pat 
mayketh  ane  knyt  and  not  schaw  pe  ordor  to  him  nor  pe  custume 
of  chevalrije  In  pe  meinquhile  pat  pe  knyt  said  pir  word/s  to  pe 
squyer  pat  demandit  cheualry  w'out  pat  he  knew  quhat  thing  wes 
chiualry  pe  squyer  smswrit  and  said  to  pe  knyt  schir  gif  it  be  jor 
pleswr  I  beseik  jow  pat  50  will  say  and  tell  to  me  pe  ordor  of 
cheualrie  ffor  weill  me  seniit  and  thinkit  pat  I  suld  leir  it  for  pe 
grit  deswr  pat  I  haue  ]>erto  and  eftir  my  power  I  sail ....[?  ensiewe 
C]  it  gif  it  pleis  jow  to  enseigne  and  teche  it  to  me  ffrend  said  pe 
knyt  pe  rewle  and  ordor  of  cheualrie  is  writtin  in  pis  litill  buke 
pat  I  hald  heir  in  my  handis  qlk  I  reid  somtyme  sa  bessie  evin  to 
pe  end  pat  it  mak  me  remember  and  think  on  pe  grace  and  bounte 
pat  god  hes  done  and  geuin  to  me  in  pis  warld  becaus  pat  I  honorit 
and  mentenit  we  all  my  pouer  pe  ordor  of  cheualry  for  all  in  lyk 
wyss  as  cheualry  gevis  to  ane  knyt  all  pat  to  him  pertenit  In 
lykwyss  ane  knyt  aucht  to  gif  all  his  force  to  honor  chevalrie. 
Thou  he  deliverit  to  pe  squyar  the  litill  buke.  And  quhen  he  had 
red  pmn  he  understude  pat  pe  knyt  only  amang  ane  thowsand 
personis  is  worthy  chosin  to  haue  mair  noble  office  pan  all  pe 
thowsand  And  he  had  alsua  understandin  be  pat  litill  buke  pe 
rewle  and  ordor  of  cheualrie  And  pan  he  remembrit  w*  in  ane 
litill  and  eftir  said  Sr  blyssit  be  je  that  hes  brofc  me  in  place  and 
tyme  pat  I  haue  knawlege  of  cheualry  pe  qlk  I  have  lang  tyme 
deswrit  w*  out  pat  I  knaw  pe  noblesse  of  pe  ordor  nor  pe  honor  in 
qlk  our  lord  god  hes  set  pame  all  pat  (bis  fol.  63)  bene  in  pe  ordor 
of  chevalry  The  knyt  said  fare  Sone  I  am  ane  auld  man  and 
feble  and  may  not  leif  lang  And  perfor  pis  litill  buke  pat  is  maid 
for  pe  devotioune  loyal te  and  ordinance  pat  ane  knyt  aucht  to  haue 
in  halding  his  ordor  je  beir  wfcjow  to  pe  court  quhair  as  je  go  unto 
and  schaw  to  all  pame  pat  wilbe  maid  knytis  And  quhen  ge  salbe 
new  doubit  knyt  and  ge  sail  returne  in  jor  awin  cuntrey  cum  agane 
to  pis  place  and  lat  me  have  knawlege  how  pai  be  pat  hes  bene 


72      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

maid  new  knytis  and  sail  be  obeysand  to  ]>e  doctriene  of  chevalrie 
Than  ]>e  knyt  gaif  to  J?e  squyar  his  blissing  and  he  tuk  leif  of  him 
and  tuke  ]>e  buke  verry  devotly  and  eftir  montit  to  his  palfray  and 
went  fur*  hestely  to  J?e  court  and  quhen  he  wes  cumm  he  presentit 
J?e  buke  wyssely  to  ]?e  king  And  for)?ermair  he  offered  }>at  euerie 
noble  man  ]>at  wald  be  in  ]>e  ordor  of  chevalry  my*  haue  ane  copie 
of  J>e  said  buke  to  ]>e  effect  J>at  he  myt  se  and  leir  J>e  ordor  of  knyt- 
hed  and  cheualry. 

Off  \e  begynnyng  off  chevalry  and  Knytheid. 

QUHEN  cheritee  ryaltie  throw  ]>e  Justice  and  veritee  fallin  in 
|?e  warld  Than  begynuit  crueltie  iniurie  disloyaultie  and  falsnes 
And  ]?erfor  wes  error  and  truble  in  )>e  warld  in  qlk  god  hes  creatit 
man  for  intentioun  ]?at  of  j>e  man  he  be  knawin  and  luffit  doutit 
seruit  and  honorit  At  J?e  begynmng  quhen  j?e  warld  wes  cum  in 
mesprisone  Justice  returnit  be  dreid  into  honor  in  qlk  scho  wes 
wont  to  be  And  heir  foir  all  ]>e  peple  wes  devoydit  be  thowsandis 
And  of  ilk  thowsand  wes  chosin  ane  man  maist  loyall  maist  Strang 
and  maist  noble  curage  and  better  enseignit  and  manerit  J>an  all 
v)?eris  And  eftir  wes  Inquyrit  and  serchit  quhat  best  wes  maist 
conveinable  maist  fair  maist  curagious  and  maist  straing  to  sustene 
to  avell  and  maist  able  to  serve  ]>e  man  And  J?an  wes  fund  ]?at  ]>e 
horss  wes  maist  noble  and  ]>e  maist  conveniable  for  to  serve  man 
And  becaus  )?at  amang  all  ]>e  beistis  J>e  man  chesit  ]>e  horss  and 
gavis  him  to  J>e  sarm'n  man  }>at  wes  so  chosin  amang  ane  thousand 
men  for  eftir  J»e  horss  qlk  is  callit  ane  chevall  in  frenche  is  }>at  man 
namit  chevalier  qlk  is  ane  knyt  in  inglis  thus  to  ]>e  maist  noble  man 
wes  gevin  ]>e  maist  noble  best  It  behwfit  eftir  J?is  J>at  )?air  suld  be 
chosin  all  J>e  armes  sic  as  bene  maist  noble  and  maist  conveniable 
to  battell  and  defend  ]>e  man  fra  deth  and  J?an  armes  wer  gevin 
and  appropriat  to  J>e  knyt  And  J?an  quha  J?at  will  entir  in  "pe  ordor 
of  chevalry  he  most  think  on  ]?e  noble  begynmng  of  chevalry  and 
him  behuffis  J?at  J?e  nobilness  of  his  curage  in  gude  customes  attour 
to  the  begynning  of  chevalrie  for  gif  it  wer  not  so  he  suld  be  con- 
trarie  to  his  ordor  And  to  his  begynningis  and  ]>erfor  it  is  not 
convenable  J?at  ]>e  ordor  of  chevalrie  reteyne  his  enemeyis  in  honor 
na  tham  J?at  be  in  contrary  to  his  begyning  lowe  and  dreid  begyn- 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  160.0.      73 

nand  aganis  hait  and  mesprisoun  And  perfoir  it  behuffit  pat  pe 
knyt  by  noblesse  of  curaige  and  of  noble  custome  and  bonntie  and 
be  pe  honor  so  grit  and  so  heich  pat  he  is  maid  be  electionn  be  his 
horss  and  be  his  armes  be  Dantit  and  .  .  .  .  wfc  pe  peple  and  be 
lowe  he  recoveris  cheritie  and  enseignement  and  be  foir  recovir 
vertue  and  Justice  of  alss  mwche  as  ane  man  have  mair  of  wit  and 
vnderstanding  and  is  of  mair  Strang  nator  pan  ane  woman  of  so 
mwche  may  he  bettir  pan  ane  woman  for  gif  he  war  not  moir 
puissant  and  different  to  be  better  pan  ane  woman  It  suld  follow 
pat  bountie  and  strenth  of  nator  war  contrarie  of  bountie  of  courage 
and  to  gude  workis  pan  all  pus  as  ane  man  be  nature  is  moir 
apparellit  to  have  noble  curage  and  to  be  better  pan  pe  woman 
In  lykwyss  he  is  mekill  mair  inclynit  to  be  vicious  pan  ane  woman 
for  gif  it  war  not  pus  he  suld  not  be  worthy  pat  he  had  grittar 
merite  to  be  gude  moir  pan  pe  woman  Be  war  50  w  squyar  pat  will 
enter  into  pe  ordor  of  chevalrie  quhat  yow  sail  do  ffor  gif  yow  be 
ane  knyt  pow  ressavit  honor  and  pe  servitude  pat  most  be  had  unto 
pe  freindis  of  chevalrie  for  if  so  moche  as  yow  hes  more  noble 
begynning  and  hes  more  honor  if  so  moche  ar  yow  mair  bund  in  to 
be  gude  and  aggreable  to  god  and  alsua  to  pe  peple  And  gif  yow 
be  wikkit  yow  ar  ennemes  of  chevalrie  and  ar  contrarie  to  his  com- 
andmentis  and  honor  ffor  sa  hie  and  sa  noble  is  pe  ordor  of  chevalrie 
pat  it  sufficiet  not  pat  pair  be  mair  knytis  of  pe  maist  noble  personis 
nor  pat  pair  suld  be  gevin  to  pame  pe  maist  noble  beste  and  pe 
best  pe  maist  noble  armes  and  pe  best  onlie  Bot  him  behuffit  and 
it  most  be  pat  he  be  maid  lord  of  mony  men  so  in  seingeorie  is  grit 
noblesse  and  in  servitude  is  in  mekill  subiectionis  Than  gif  yow 
tak  pe  ordor  of  knytheid  and  ar  ane  vile  man  and  wikkit  pow  dois 
grit  Iniurie  to  all  pair  subiectis  and  to  pair  fallowis  pat  bene  gude 
ffor  be  pe  vilitie  in  quhilk  yow  ar  gif  yow  be  wikkit  [bis  fol.  64] 
yow  aucht  to  be  put  under  ane  serf  or  bondman  And  be  pe  noblesse 
of  knytis  pat  be  god  it  is  indigne  and  not  worthy  pat  thow  be  callit 
ane  knyt  Electioun  na  horss  na  armes  suffisis  not  pat  to  pe  heich 
honor  qlk  langeis  to  ane  knyt  bot  it  be  honest  pat  pair  be  gevin  to 
him  ane  squyar  and  seruand  pat  may  tak  hed  to  his  horss  And  it 
behovit  als  pat  pe  awmony  peple  and  pe  bestis  haif  pair  leifing 
And  pat  pe  knyt  rest  him  and  be  at  ...  .  eftir  his  nobilness  and 
desport  him  upon  his  horss  for  to  hunt  or  in  vper  maner  eftir  pat 


74      A  Sticdy  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

it  sail  pleiss  him  And  pat  he  aiss  him  and  delyte  in  thingis  of  pe 
qlk  his  men  hath  pane  and  travell  The  clerkis  studiand  in  doctrine 
and  scyence  haw  pai  mai  cum  to  knaw  god  and  lufe  him  and  his 
werHs  to  pe  ende  pat  pai  may  gif  doctrine  to  pe  peple  lay  and 
bestiall  be  gude  exampillis  to  knaw  luf  servie  and  honor  god  oure 
gratious  Lord  for  to  pe  end  pat  pai  may  ordinarlie  do  pir  thingis 
J>ai  follow  and  perse  wis  pe  scollis  Than  pus  as  pe  dark  is  be  honest 
lyfe  be  gud  example  and  science  have  gottin  ordor  and  office  to 
inclyne  pe  peple  to  devotioun  and  gude  lyfe  In  lykwyss  pe  knytis 
be  noblenes  of  curage  and  be  force  of  amies  mantene  pe  ordor  of 
chevalrie  and  have  pe  samm  ordor  to  pe  end  pat  pai  inclyne  pe  small 
peple  be  pe  dreid  be  pe  qlk  pai  sail  dout  to  do  wrang  schame  to  ane 
vpir  The  science  and  pe  scole  of  pe  ordor  of  chevalrie  is  pat  pe 
knyt  mak  his  sone  to  leir  in  his  jowth  to  ryd  for  gif  he  leir  not  in 
his  jowth  he  sail  neuir  leir  in  his  auld  aige  And  it  behuffis  pat 
pe  sone  of  ane  knyt  in  pe  tyme  pat  he  is  squyar  can  tak  kepyng  of 
horss  and  him  behuffit  pat  he  serve  and  pat  he  be  first  subiect  or 
he  be  lord  for  vpir  wiss  suld  he  not  knaw  pe  noblenesse  of  pe  seig- 
neorie  quhen  he  suld  be  ane  knyt  And  perfoir  every  maw  pat  will 
cum  to  knytheid  him  behuffis  to  leir  in  his  jowth  to  kerf  at  pe 
table  to  serue  to  wine  and  to  doube  ane  knyt  ffor  In  lykwys  as 
ane  man  will  leir  to  schaw  for  to  be  ane  tailjeor  or  ane  carpentar 
him  behuiffit  ]?at  he  have  ane  maister  ]>an  can  schaw  him  to  schew 
or  hewe  all  In  lykwyss  it  behuffis  |>at  ane  noble  man  J?at  luffis  J>e 
ordor  of  chevalry  and  wilbe  ane  knyt  ffor  Jus  as  ane  disconveniable 
thing  it  suld  be  ]>at  ane  man  J?at  wald  leir  to  sew  of  ane  carpentar 
all  Inlykwyss  suld  it  be  ane  disconveniable  thing  ]>at  ane  squier 
suld  leir  J?e  ordor  and  ]>e  noblenes  of  chevalry  of  ony  o}?ir  man  J>an 
of  ane  knyt  samekill  is  heich  and  honorit  ]>e  ordor  of  chevalrie  that 
to  ane  squyaris  not  sufficient  not  only  to  keip  horss  and  leir  to  serve 
ane  knyt  and  J?at  he  go  w*  him  to  tournayis  and  battellis  bot  it  is 
neidfull  J?at  )>air  behaldin  to  him  ane  scole  of  J?e  ordor  of  knythed 
and  J?at  J>e  science  war  written  in  j>e  buik  and  ]?at  ]>e  art  war  schawin 
and  red  And  f>at  ]>e  sounes  of  knytis  leir  first  ]>e  science  pat  apper- 
tenis  to  ]>e  ordor  of  chevalrie  And  eftir  J?at  J>ai  war  squyaris  J>ai 
suld  ryd  throch  divers  countreyis  w*  ]?e  knytis  and  gif  pair  war 
nane  error  in  pe  clerkis  pai  suld  haif  deuotioun  and  lufe  to  god 
And  be  pe  knytis  J?ai  suld  dout  to  do  wrang  tresson  and  bariet 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      75 

]>e  ane  to  ane  vj?ir  Than  sen  J?e  clarkis  haif  sic  maistem  and  doc- 
trine and  go  to  ]>e  scollis  For  to  leir  and  J?air  be  sa  mony  sciences 
j>at  J?ai  bene  writtin  and  ordanit.  In  doctrine  grit  wrang  is  done 
to  }?e  order  of  knytheid  of  J>is  J>at  it  is  not  ane  science  writtin 
and  red  in  scollis  lyk  as  ]>e  vjnr  sciences  And  j7e/*foir  he  ]?at  maid 
]?is  buke  beseikis  J>e  noble  king  and  all  )>e  noble  cumpany  of  knytis 
|?at  bene  in  J?is  cu?itrey  assemblitt  in  ]?e  honor  of  chevalrie  ]>at  of  ]>e 
wrang  }>at  is  done  to  it  maybe  amendit  and  satisfactioun  done. 

Two  other  MS.  works  should  be  noted  here,  not  because  they 
possess  remarkable  linguistic  material,  but  because  they  show,  with 
Knox's  History  of  the  Reformation  and  Bannatyne's  Journal,  the 
change  to  English  forms  and  constructions. 

The  first  is  the  MS.  without  title,  which  was  afterwards  called 
the  "  Diurnal  of  Remarkable  Occurrents,  that  have  passed  within 
the  country  of  Scotland  since  the  death  of  King  James  IV  till  the 
year  mdlxxv."  This  was  printed  for  the  Bannatyne  Club,1  and 
the  Introduction  by  Thomas  Thomson  gives  all  the  information  at 
present  available.  "  Of  the  author  or  compiler  of  the  following 
1  Diurnal '  nothing  is  known,  or  seems  likely  to  be  discovered. 
The  MS.  from  which  it  has  been  printed  came  into  the  possession 
of  the  family  of  its  present  owner  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II,  and 
appears  to  be  of  the  latter  end  of  the  16th  Century,  or  beginning  of 
the  17th.  It  is  obviously  the  work  of  an  ignorant,  and  often  care- 
less transcriber ;  whose  frequent  mistakes,  in  the  names  of  persons 
and  places,  are  not  the  most  important  or  perplexing  of  his  apparent 
deviations  from  the  original.  Some  errors,  however,  are  of  a  kind 
which  cannot  be  fairly  ascribed  to  the  mere  negligence  of  tran- 
scription and  with  which  the  original  author  may  be  more  justly 
presumed  to  have  been  chargeable."  ...  "  From  the  era  of  the 
battle  of  Flodden  and  the  death  of  King  James  in  the  year  1513, 
at  which  it  commences,  down  to  the  termination  of  the  government 
of  the  Earl  of  Arran  in  1553,  its  details,  comparatively  meagre  and 
occasionally  inaccurate,  are  obviously  not  recorded  by  a  contem- 
porary chronicler,  but  must  have  been  derived  from  tradition  and 
other  imperfect  sources."  ..."  The  next  and  most  considerable 

1  From  a  MS.  of  the  16th  Century,  in  the  possession  of  Sir  John  Maxwell  of 
Pollock,  Bart.  Printed  at  Edinburgh,  mdcccxxxiii,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Thomas  Thomson,  Esq. 


76      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

portion  of  the  work,  beginning  at  the  year  1557,  and  ending  in 
June,  1572,  bears  evident  marks  of  having  been  written  by  a  con- 
temporary observer,  residing  in  Edinburgh,  and  probably  enlarged 
in  some  subordinate  official  position,  not  very  remote  from  the 
Court,  yet  not  of  such  a  kind  as  to  afford  him  accurate  or  confi- 
dential intelligence  in  matters  not  obvious  to  all  the  world.  .  .  ." 

The  language  shows  influences  of  legal  vocabulary  and  construc- 
tions, and  there  are  few  French  words  which  catch  the  eye  by 
oddness  of  form  or  use. 

The  other  work  upon  which,  with  the  "  Diurnal,"  historians  have 
drawn  is  the  History  of  Lindsay,  of  Pittscottie,  commonly  known 
as  l  Pittscottie/  Several  MSS.  of  this  work  exist,  the  following 
having  been  examined.  They  are  numbered  for  convenience  of 
reference. 

No.  I.  Laing  MSS.  in  the  Edinburgh  University  Library,  No. 
216,  page  17  of  the  catalogue — small  folio  with  modern  title  pages 
and  an  introduction  in  verse  of  3 J  pages,  154  leaves.  Title:  aThe 
Continuation  |  of]  The  Chronicles  &  |  History  of  Scotland  ]  written 
by  Mr  Hector  Boes  &  translated  |  by  Mr.  John  Ballantyne,  begin- 
ning where  they  left  |  off  at  the  Death  of  King  James  the  first  and  | 
ending  anno  1565  |  by  Robert  Lindsay  of  Pittscottie  |  continued  by 
another  hand  to  King  James  the  6th  |  coronation  in  England  anno 
1603."  The  MS.  itself  begins :  "  Heir  begynnes  J?e  table  of  this 
buik  ordorlie  as  it  was  writtin  frome  ]?e  begynning  to  ]>e  end  and 
as  J?e  samen  may  be  found  as  je  may  persaue  be  \q  figures."  The 
mixture  of  English  spelling  is  evident  from  the  first  line  of  the  body 
of  the  work.  "  Heir  begyneth  the  angtient  Buik  of  ]>e  cronicles  of 
Scotland." 

This  MS.  begins  with  James  II  and  ends  1606,  with  the  King 
of  Denmark  being  given  the  Garter  at  Elsinore,  and  a  description 
of  the  latter  place ;  it  has  also  the  introduction,  pp.  1-7,  with  the 
description  and  early  history  of  Britain. 

No.  II.  Laing  MSS.,  E.  U.  L.,  No.  218,  p.  17,  catalogue,  sm. 
4o.  This  is  a  much  later  MS.  than  I,  and  is  written  in  a  small 
neat  hand,  in  uncial-like  characters,  on  384  pages.  It  also  con- 
tains the  poetical  introduction  which  does  not  vary  from  I  save 
in  a  few  spellings.  The  chronicle  ends  with  Feb.  25,  1598.  The 
MS.  begins  immediately  after  the  poem,  without  the  historical  intro- 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      77 

duction,  with  the  words :  '  Heere  beginneth  the  xvni  booke  of  the 
Chro|nicles  of  Scotland,  where  Mr  Hector  Boes  left  and  Mr  John 
Ballantyne  translated  of  the  five  Kings  of  the  Stuarts  beginning  at 
James  the  second.'  The  "Addition  "  (p.  380)  brings  the  narrative 
account  from  1565  to  Feb.  25,  1598. 

The  language  of  this  MS.  is  quite  English,  few  Scotch  forms 
appearing. 

No.  III.  Advocates'  Library,  Edinburgh,  35,  4,  10,  sm.  fol., 
152  leaves  in  good  condition,  and  written  in  a  clear  hand;  hand- 
somely bound.  The  introductory  poem  of  I  and  II  is  wanting ; 
the  first  five  leaves  of  the  Introduction  contain  the  description  of 
Britain,  beginning  :  "  Heare  begines  ane  breife  discriptione  of  Ing- 
land,  Scotland,  Waillis  and  Cornewaill." 

The  MS.  has  marginal  notes  and  ends  with  the  description  of 
the  castle  at  Elsinore ;  presents  given  to  the  King  of  Denmark ; 
his  Ambassador's  return,  and  a  meeting  at  Hampton  Court :  finally 
there  follows  the  Table  of  Contents.  This  version  is  more  Scotch 
than  the  others. 

No.  IY.   Adv.  Library,  35,  4,  11.     Bound  like  No.  III. 

This  MS.  does  not  contain  the  poem  or  the  description  of  Britain, 
and  after  the  short  introduction  as  in  I.  There  are  108  leaves  of 
the  history  ending  with  25  Feb.,  1598.  There  is  no  table  of 
contents.  Unlike  the  others  the  MS.  is  written  in  two  hands ;  the 
second  begins  at  fol.  (verso)  17,  soon  after  the  opening  of  chap. 
xix,  this  hand  resembles  that  of  I,  but  separate  location  of  the 
two  MSS.  made  comparison  impossible. 

No.  V.   British  Museum,  Harleian  MSS.  4687-62  d. 

Fol.  of  149  leaves  bound  up  with  No's  145  and  148.  Time 
did  not  permit  a  careful  study  of  this  MS. 

These  MSS.  may  be  the  ones  consulted  by  Dalyell  in  his  edition,1 
but  a  vague  reference  to  several  manuscripts  leaves  one  in  doubt  as 
to  his  sources.  In  using  these  manuscripts  Dalyell  did  not  aim  to 
preserve  consistency  in  the  language ;  constructions  and  forms  are 
therefore  common  which  can  hardly  be  said  to  represent  in  their 

Lindsay  of  Pittscottie,  Chronicle  of  Scotland,  2  vols,  in  one;  Edinb.,  1814. 
Other  editions  of  Pittscottie  have  been  issued :  Laing,  in  his  edition  of  Knox's 
'  History'  (Wordrow  Society),  note,  p.  18,  cites  that  of  1728  and  of  1776.  Modern- 
ized versions  have  also  been  printed. 


rr  1? 


78      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

collocation  either  the  Scotch  of  late  16th  Century  or  of  the  English 
of  that  time.  It  would  seem  that  late  1 6th  Century  Scotch  is  hardly 
practicable  matter  for  the  grammarian ;  what  appear  to  be  English 
departures  from  the  Scottish  of  the  early  part  of  the  century  may 
have  been  characteristic  of  individual  writers,  such  as  Knox,  or 
common  to  the  literary  language,  while  not  yet  assimilated  in  the 
vernacular.  Until,  therefore,  one  MS.  of  Pittscottie  is  edited,  No. 
Ill  for  example,  with  variants  and  additions  from  the  others, 
Pittscottie  should  not  be  considered  as  accurately  representing  the 
language  of  late  16th  Cen.  In  spite  of  the  anglicisms,  Dalyell  has 
preserved  many  Scottish  forms :  contrair  to  his  conscience  p.  389, 
conjured  enemies  123,  king  melled  with  her  268,  yeid  vagand  329, 
gett  his  disjone  readie  the  morne  332,  casting  all  the  moyane  he 
might  338,  spolzied  of  thair  bestiall  138,  though  we  have  beine 
in  use  of  the  same  consuetude  354.  By  the  side  of  past  participles 
in  -ed  we  find  the  verb  with  Scottish  endings :  I  for  my  part 
appeallis  from  your  summondis  and  judgment,  and  takis  me  to  the 
mercie  of  God  267,  i  wott  and  knawis  treulie  p.  1,  i  hear  .  .  . 
appeallis  and  takis  me  .  .  .  and  summondis  you  317. 

In  marked  contrast  with  the  anglicised  Scotch  is  the  description 
of  a  pageant,  in  manuscript,  preserved  on  fol.  130  of  the  Abbots  ford 
'AH.'  It  is  one  of  the  leaves  at  the  back,  which,  with  a  short  his- 
torical treatise  in  Scotch,  was  bound  up  soon  after  it  was  written. 
The  'Pageant'  bears  the  date  1562,  and  professes  to  be  a  descrip- 
tion of  ']>e  processioun  and  bering  of  ]>e  Sacrament  in  Antuarp  the 
first  day  of  Junij  ]>e  jeir  of  God  /\vlxij.'  It  forms  a  valuable 
addition  to  the  scant  materials  for  the  history  of  Pageantry  in  Scot- 
land and  the  use  of  common  names  for  some  of  the  characters : 
'  Dauid  Dispit '  and  '  Willie  Wanreft,'  with  the  sentence  at  the  end 
'.  .  .to  the  takin  I  wissit  (wished)  ]?ame  cumand  in  at  ]?e  toun  end 
of  D uncle'  shows  that  some  features  of  the  Pageant  were  not  un- 
familiar to  the  Scottish  scribe.  The  transcription  of  the  MS.  is 
given  in  full. 

Heir  followis  J?e  ordor  of  J?e  processioun  and  bering  of  pe  Sacra- 
ment in  Antuarp  the  first  day  of  Junij  J?e  jeir  of  God  /\vlxii 

Item  in  ]>e  first  proceeding  on  carttis  drawin  be  hors  as  followis 
)>e  elephantis  of  ]>e  mesour  often  faddomis  of  heicht  w*  ane  goddes 
standand  aboue  haldand  in  hir  hand  ane  apill  of  gold     Item  ane 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      79 

dramadare  berand  ane  castell  on  his  bak  w*  certan  men  and  artail- 
jerie  in  ]?e  samyn  ay  schutand  and  castand  fyre  ballis  in  ]>e  aire 
Item  ane  vondrons  greit  pictoure  of  ane  man  callit  golyas  of  J>e 
quawtite  of  viij  faddoum  heicht  and  v  faddoum  of  thiknes  w*  ane 
beird  of  tua  ell  is  of  lentht  and  his  heid  behaldand  all  ]>e  partis  of 
]>e  toun  as  he  had  bene  lyfelie  and  certane  of  his  awin  barnis  gan- 
gand  about  him  to  J?e  nomer  of  xxiiij  all  monstoris  to  behald  and 
luke  on  Item  ane  schip  braulie  w*  saillis  and  all  workmen  and 
ane  trumpeter  w*  in  hir  sailland  on  ]>e  calsay  as  it  had  bene  in 
waiter  w*  out  ]>e  persawing  of  men  ha  wand  skipper  w4  marinallis  and 
gunam  all  reddy  at  ]>e  sound  of  his  quhissill  Item  ]>e  vesitatioun 
of  or  Lady  Item  ]>e  berth  of  christ  in  bathlem  w*  ane  greit  nomer 
of  schippard/s  ganand  about  him  to  ]>e  nomer  of  xxiiij  all  cled 
in  schippardis  array  wfc  stalf  bage  pype  all  playand  Item  J?e  rout 
of  Jesse  growand  as  it  had  bene  ane  tre  w*  mony  branchis  and  on 
evry  branche  ane  joung  damysell  all  cled  in  fyne  claithe  of  silver 
and  fowr  fair  Ladyis  on  ]>e  heicht  of  )>e  tre  all  cled  in  fayre  cleith 
of  gold  Item  Abrahame  w*  thre  parsonis  w*  him  cled  in  caippis  of 
gold  w*  schawin  swyngeom  about  him  syngand  te  deum  laudamus 
Item  ane  greit  gloib  borne  on  ane  cairt  )>e  men  being  w*  in  ]>e  samyn 
turnand  ay  about  \>e  said  gloib  wout  ]>e  perseving  of  ony  body  w* 
iiij  trumpettis  blawand  ]>e  quhilk  gloib  representit  \e  vanite  of  J?e 
warld  as  it  had  bene  \e  quhill  of  fortoun  sum  tymes  up  and  sum 
tymes  doun  Item  ane  braue  gentill  uoman  w*  hir  yplesis  all  cled 
in  claitht  of  siluer  hawand  greit  cofferis  wfc  J>ame  significand  ]>e 
greit  riches  of  J?e  world  Item  ane  v]nr  braue  gentill  voman  sitt- 
and  on  ane  trone  maid  of  heicht  guantitee  to  my  jugement  to  }>e 
heicht  of  ane  castell  representand  ]>e  heichtness  of  J?e  warld  coplesis 
David  Dispit  and  Willie  Wanreft  Item  ane  cart  w*  wemen  and 
bairnis  braulie  cled  sum  dansand  sum  singand  sum  drinkand  sum 
at  harlotre  sum  at  pastyme  sum  at  )>air  awin  plesoure  quhilk  repre- 
sentit ]>e  wrak  of  J>e  warld  Item  followand  hir  in  ane  v]>ir  cairt 
ane  braue  gentill  man  weill  serwit  w*  his  compleciss  wfc  ane  tow 
full  of  theingis  and  cruellie  J?air  executing  Justice  as  it  apperit  to 
me  in  deid  sum  be  hangit  and  sum  be  hedit  v}nr  sum  be  pat  vpone 
rattis  and  sum  be  pat  in  presone  conforme  to  }>air  defaltis  Item 
followit  pallidess  mekle  cled  in  blew  purpor  welwat  accumpaneit 
w*  Dame  hunger  going  efter  hir  w*  certane  pure  folkis  all  nakit 


80      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

and  ane  vj?air  vomaw  callit  Dame  flattre  followand  J>ame  Item 
Sanct  Anthone  rydand  on  ane  horss  ladin  w*  iij  dewillis  and  cer- 
taine  pardownaris  w*  J?ame  Item  ]?e  powertie  of  ]>e  warld  w*  pitie 
and  laubor  all  war  allane  in  ane  cairt  petaienslie  to  be  hald  all  in 
ane  sekcleitht  Item  ane  brave  gentill  woman  set  heicht  in  ane 
w*  hir  ladyis  to  J>e  nomer  of  xxiiij  representand  mansuetude  and 
followand  her  dreiddor  and  petie  Item  an  angill  on  ane  cairt 
w*  babeis  and  barnis  brawlie  cled  in  fyne  sylkkis  all  in  ane 
hew  representand  pace  rycheis  and  meiknes  to  J?e  nomer  of  ane 
/\c  (500)  Item  followand  |?air  efter  all  craifltis  men  on  hors  w* 
J?air  taiknis  and  syngnis  of  J?air  awin  craift  berand  in  J?air  handis 
to  J?e  nomer  of  ane  thowsand  all  prenteissis  Item  betuix  eilk  ane 
of  J?ir  cairtis  and  pages  forsaidis  ]?air  wes  joung  barnis  baitht  men 
and  wemen  rydand  apone  horss  princlie  cled  Betuix  eilk  cairt 
xxiiij  representand  J?e  barnis  of  israel  w*  singnis  of  auld  testaments 
in  J>air  handis  Item  J?air  wes  J>e  pictor  of  crist  sittand  on.  ane  bow 
w*  angellis  blawand  J?air  trumpatis  representand  )>e  day  of  Juge- 
ment  w*  )>e  deid  bodyis  risand  in  sundry  partis  of  J?e  erth  as  it  had 
bene  ane  thing  By  ]?e  capacite  of  men  and  J?e  dewillis  on  J?e  said 
cairt  resawand  )>e  condampnit  creatara  w*  greit  lamentatiounis  jowl- 
ling  and  jowting  quhilk  vas  ane  intolerable  thyng  to  be  hald  Item 
efter  followit  J?e  blak  freir is  berand  ane  kirk  apone  J?air  schuldem 
couerit  with  claith  of  silver  j?air  efter  followit  J>e  gray  freiris  to  ]>e 
nomer  of  iiij0  than  followit  J?e  nowassis  singand  to  J?e  nomer  of  ij° 
Item  efter  followit  certane  preistis  to  J?e  nomer  of  iij0  wfc  quhit  lawi(n) 
surplechis  vpone  )?ame  singand  afor  J?e  sacrament  Item  J?air  efter 
followit  certan  quhat  monkis  to  ]?e  nomer  of  lxxx  berand  tua  greit 
siluer  croceis  to  my  estimatioun  vi  Stane  vecht  syngand  awe  crux 
Jesu  Item  come  certane  quhait  schawillingis  cled  all  in  quhait 
damess  to  the  nomer  of  ijc  castand  ]>e  mir  and  sence  about  J?e  pepill 
berand  J>e  fegor  of  christ  in  gold  singand  awe  rex  gloria  Item  J>air 
eftir  followit  certane  men  of  weir  all  cled  in  grene  velvet  iij  and  iij 
in  ordor  w*  J>air  concubinis  berand  J>air  bulgettis  at  J?air  bakkis 
beand  all  cled  with  heid  pecis  morionis  or  gilt  w*  gold  to  J>e  nomer 
of  ane  thowsand  everilk  man  w*  his  culueryng  on  his  schoulder 
schutand  throw  all  ]>e  toun  and  j;air  concubinis  bringand  thame 
drink  on  ewery  stryt  of  ]>e  toun  Item  followit  ane  certane  of  tua 
handit  suirdtt  men  to  ]>e  nomer  of  viijc  cled  all  in  blew  purp  veluot 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  befwe  1600.      81 

w*  cheingeis  of  gold  about  pair  nekis  and  eilk  vc  hawand  aue  capi- 
tane  w*  all  his  vamphelom  and  offisaris  awaitand  his  comand  Item 
followit  certane  pic  men  and  halbartis  all  cled  in  pe  duche  fasone 
callit  sue(i?)scheis  in  reid  weluet  all  pair  hoes  drawin  furtht  w* 
reit  sating  to  pe  nomer  of  xij°  Item  pair  efter  followit  certane  joung 
men  burges  mennis  sounis  to  pe  nomer  of  vjc  all  cled  in  claith  of 
gold  and  syluer  and  euerilk  ane  of  pair  horss  was  extemit  to  iij 
crounis  of  pe  sone  by  pe  rest  of  pair  clething  and  be  my  Jugement 
I  culd  not  exteme  pame  bot  gif  pai  had  bene  princes  Item  pair 
followit  betuix  euerilk  ane  of  pir  companyis  ane  snache  ane  hand 
steinje  ane  trumpet  and  ane  quhissill  and  ane  kyng  eftir  pame  w4 
ane  croune  of  gold  on  heid  and  ane  scheptor  In  his  hand  and  iiij 
auld  Sege  men  about  hyme  quhilk  men  of  weir  drew  to  pe  nomer 
of  xai  or  perby  Item  followit  all  pe  honest  men  of  pe  toun  wfc  pe 
prowest  and  bailgeis  and  consall  Ilkane  ane  small  paintit  stalf  in 
pair  hand  of  red  collor  w*  ane  hundretht  offisaris  uvatand  on  pame 
Ilk  offisar  hawande  ane  halbart  on  his  schulder  all  brawlie  cled 
in  sating  and  weluet  Item  pair  efter  come  certane  preistiss  to  pe 
nomer  of  lxxx  berande  pe  sacrament  on  pair  schulderis  all  cled  in 
fyne  caippis  of  gold  to  pe  takin  I  wissit  pame  cumand  in  at  pe  toun 
end  of  Dunde  Item  pair  mess  beand  doune  all  pe  artailjorie  of  pe 
toun  schot  greit  and  small  to  pe  nomer  of  xxai  scAote  as  honest  men 
of  pe  toun  did  report  and  as  honest  scottis  men  can  verifie  pat  ves 
per*  present. 

VI. 

Phonology  of  the  Vowels. 

The  Phonology  of  the  Scottish  prose  examined  is  too  irregular 
to  be  made  a  subject  of  definite  classification.  In  Dr.  Murray's 
division  of  the  language  into  periods,  pp.  142-143,  Dial.  South. 
Counties,  the  vowels  in  the  Early  and  Middle  Periods  practically 
coincide  in  45  out  of  the  57  cases  given.  In  the  12  cases  where  a 
marked  difference  has  been  made  of  sound  or  representation,  it  will 
be  found  that,  in  the  prose,  sufficient  data  for  a  basis  of  division  in 
these  12  are  not  always  apparent.  We  find  early  vowels  in  the 
Middle  Scotch,  and  diphthongs,  mixed  or  broken  vowels  in  the 
6 


82      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600, 

language  of  the  Early  Period.     These  12  cases  in  Dr.  Murray's 
division  which  theoretically  separate  the  two  periods  are : 


o.  E. 

a  faran 
se  rsede 
e  bere 
e  he> 
ea  eald 
ea(r)  beam 
ea  eae 
eo  de6p 
6  boc 
u  tun 

ti  (final)  cu 
tih  ruh 


EARLY   SCOTCH. 

a  fare 
e  rede 
e  bere 
e  her 
a  aide 
a  barn 
e  eke 
e  depe 
u  buke 
ow  town 
ow  cow 
owch  rowch 


4 
15 
20 
21 
24 
25 
26 
32 
49 
53 
54 
55 


MIDDLE  SCOTCH. 

ay  fayr 
ei  reid 
ei  beir 
ei  heir 
au  auld 
ay,  ai,  bairn 
ei  eik 
ei  deip 
ui  buik 
ou  toun 
ou  cou 
ou  rouche 


Taking  up  these  sounds  as  they  have  been  found  in  the  prose 
they  may  be  collected  as  follows  : 


Early  Scottish  a  (Middle  Scot,  ay,  ai,  au,  aw.    Murray). 
(0.  E.  a,  d,  az,  ce,  6a,  &c.) 

Register  Scotch  Parliament. 

Before  1424,  mak  3,  1 ;  havyne,  '  haven '  3,  1 ;  thame  3,  1 ; 
stanys,  stones  3,  2 ;  zardis,  enclosure  4,  1 ;  scathis  4,  1 ;  amangis, 
bath,  schawe,  hall  1424;  bath  1466;  hale,  '  whole/  have  1469; 
faris,  < fairs'  1469;  aid  1471 ;  barnis  1540. 

Hay,  B.  of  t.  O.  of  K.,  barnis  p.  3,  bath  4,  hane  4,  eak  4,  allane 
4,  evermare  4,  tak  4,  thare  5,  sa  hare  and  aide  5,  hare,  ?  hair ?  5, 
snawe  5,  bare  5,  haly  5,  bade,  '  remained  ?  6,  sare  6,  wald  vb.  6, 
knawe  inf.  8,  schaw  vb.  8,  thame  8,  lap,  leapt  8,  warld  9,  amang 
9,  stark  9,  lave,  remainder  10,  strakis,  strokes  10,  grathit  13,  wate 
3,  pi.  know  14,  awin  15,  sakis  15,  ath  22  (aythis  ib.),  takenis  30, 
aide  31,  anys  32,  calde  33,  grathe,  girt  42,  nede  bestad  42,  wapinis 
56,  gate  56,  hamely  58. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      83 

Buk  of  Luv,  aid  Introd.,  haly  ib.,  agane  ib.,  warld  Prol.  band 
ib.,  hart  Ca  I,  farest,  fairest  Ca  II,  stark  ib.,  tak  ib.,  lat  Ca  III, 
stall,  stole  pt.  Ca  IV,  banis,  bones  Ca  VI,  cald  ib.,  wame  ib. 

Porteus  of  Nobilnes,  haue  inf.  1,  warkis  4. 

Bellenden,  Livy  and  Chron.,  have,  thare,  behald,  pame,  gate,  &c. 

Complaynt  of  Scotland,  al  mast  1,  aid  1,  tha,  they  2,  baris  3, 
daly  3,  stane  20,  bane  20,  cart  48,  cald  52,  hartis  gen.  71,  slane 
79,  hang  93,  (anglicism?  sc.  hing)  haue  176  (common). 

Heraldic  Collection  MS.,  spak  pret.  haly,  takin,  gane,  facht, 
fought,  pret. 

Pageant  MS.,  pat,  '  put/  barnis. 

Early  Scottish  e  (Middle  Scot.  ei). 
(0.  E.  at,  ce,  e,  3,  ed,  eo,  eo,  i,  &c.) 

Reg.  Scot.  Par. :  before  1424,  ferding  3,  1 ;  bestis  3,  1 ;  sek, 
1  sack '  3,  1 ;  hering  3,  1 ;  lede  pp.  3,  1 ;  wecht  3,  2  j  kellis  n.  pi. 
3,  2,  derrest  3,  2,  zerde  (of  ship),  4,  1 ;  kepit  pp.  4,  1 ;  suer  4,  1  ; 
lefull  4,  3  ;  geve  4,  1 ;  nechbowris  4, 1 ;  gef  4,  1 ;  wersyt  pp.  4, 1 ; 
heddis  and  nebbys  of  )>e  hennys  4,  2 ;  erde  4,  2 ;  herde  pret  4,  2 ; 
selde  inf.  4,  2 ;  wede  5,  1  ;  zeme  ib. ;  stede  ib. ;  delfe  ib. ;  lele  5, 
2.— eldast  9, 1, 1424 ;  erde  10,  2  ;  zer  ib. ;  lege  10, 1, 1424 ;  sped- 
full  1424 ;  greth,  wele  ib. ;  spere  1425,  mekle  1466 ;  werk  1469  ; 
wer  vb.  1471 ;  schep  1504. 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  grete,  *  great '  3,  erd  3,  chesit  3,  eld  4,  jeldit  4, 
hert  4,  mekle  4,  ferre,  '  far f  5,  rede  5,  hede  5,  slepe  5,  spere  vb.  5, 
berde  5,  greting  5,  leue  5,  feris  5,  heldit  6,  speke  6,  bene  6,  leve  7, 
wele  7,  kepe  7,  red  pp.  8,  geve  inf.  8,  leve  8,  dere  8,  gere  9,  drede  9, 
chess  9,  beste,  '  beast '  9,  bere  10,  kepe  10,  hele  10,  dede,  i  death ' 
10,  kepe  sb.  12,  dedis  12,  nede  12,  ferd  14,  weris  14,  eldar  14, 
beris  16,  schelde  gen.  17,  lere  22,  dee  22,  gretis  22,  eris  23,  lee  24, 
revare  24,  thef  24,  stelis  25,  were,  worse  25,  lele  25,  brek  26,  meke 
27,  stedefastnes  27,  peple  27,  rekkis  29,  wenis  29,  hete  33,  mete  33, 
eke  vb.  37,  scherand,  cutting  38,  seker  39,  stretis  39,  sterap,  stirrup 
40,  werst  48,  werrays  49,  werk  51,  fer  52,  kemmand, ' combing'  55, 
nedefull,  spedefull,  grettar  55,  mekle,  dere  60. 


84      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Buk  of  Luf,  mekle,  Introd.,  gret  ib. ;  red  pp.  Prol.  erdly  Ca  I ; 
kepe  Ca  II,  teris  ib. ;  felis  ib. ;  besekis  ib. ;  serk  Ca  III,  ferd  ib. ; 
dredand  ib. ;  wepand  ib. ;  jeris  Ca  IV  erd  ib.  j  eris  Ca  VI  beld, 
'bold'ib. 

Porteus  of  Nobilnes,  rekis  (3,  sing)  1,  dedis  1,  schewis  1, 
deis  1,  erd  1,  kepis  1,  ekis  2,  gret  2,  werre  2,  hert  2,  levis  3, 
ded  3,  hele  3. 

Bellenden,  Livy  and  Chron.,  mene  tyme,  bedis,  wery,  bene,  be- 
held, ene,  grete,  setis,  hedis,  fecht,  rede,  bere. 

Complaynt  of  Scotland,  ther, l  their y  1,  kepit  3,  i  hef  16,  dede, 
death  20,  gef  21,  teche  33,  cleene  34,  we  hef  46,  mekil  55,  rede  58, 
depe  60,  clethyng  68,  grene  69,  tethe, ' teeth'  73,  trest  79,  est,  east 
79,  hed  87,  brede  122,  frend  ib. 

Herald.  Coll.  MS.,  gret  1,  bering  1,  gerss  5,  sterap  56,  swerd  ib., 
fecht  63,  mek  64,  wersland,  wrestling  64,  gretand  64. 

Pageant  MS.,  bering,  mekle. 

Early  Scottish  u  (Middle  Scot.  ui). 
0.  E.  6,  o,  4,  u,  &c. 

Reg.  Scot.  Par.  before  1424 :  furthe  3,  1 ;  mate  sb.  4,  2 ;  gude 
5, 1 ;  gudis  n.  pi.  5,  2.— muif  9, 1,  1424  •  tuke  1466, 141/2  ;  gude 
156,  1,  1469 ;  bruke  158,  2,  1471 ;  buk  158,  2,  1471 ;  blude  732, 
1,  1558. 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  buke  3,  gude  3,  tuke  6,  fut  10,  lufe  10,  tume  20, 
rute  27,  abufe  34,  lufit  44. 

Buk  of  Luf,  buk  1,  luf  1,  tuk  Prol.,  cule  Ca  II,  blud  Ca  IV. 

Port.  Nobil.,  gudis  2,  gud  adj.  (cf.  reut  2,  reul  3,  nw  5). 

Bellenden,  Livy  and  Chron.,  gud,  guds  sb.  pi.,  tuke. 

Complaynt  of  Scotland,  dune, l done'  3,  gude  10,  fule  14,  abufe 
20,  behufe  29,  tuke  37,  fut  37,  mune  47,  clud  58,  blud  58,  bure 
pret.  68,  sune  78,  culd,  ' could'  81,  brukit  86  (cf.  beuk  16,  35,  82, 
teuk  30,  smeuk  42,  sleu  76). 

Herald.  Coll.  MS.,  gude  1,  buke  4,  8,  55  bis,  tuke  10,  luv  11, 
luk  61  of  vi,  fute61. 

Pageant,  culd. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      85 

Early  Scot,  -ow;  Mid.  Scot.  ou. 
0.  E.  4,  d,  &c. 

Reg.  Sc.  Par.  before  1424  :  kowe  3,  1  ;  wowe,  '  woll '  3,  1  ; 
sownce  3,  1  j  towne  3,  1 ;  twne  4,  1  ;  out  4,  2 ;  zowe,  <  yew '  1424 
(toune  60,  1,  1424 ;  thousande  3,  1 ;  brouke  1424). 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  thowsand  9  (thousand  10),  mistrowaris,  now  46 
(doun  5,  goun  5,  jouthede  5). 

Buk  of  Luv,  throw  Introd.,  thow  Ca  II  (joung  Introd.,  toung 
Prol.,  doun,  toune  Ca  III). 

Port.  Nobil.,  nw  5. 

Bellenden,  doun. 

Complaynt  of  Scotland  (cou  64,  foul  178,  gone,  'yew'  42, 
oure  1). 

Herald.  Coll.  MS.  (doun  56),  bowsum  70. 

Pageant  (toun). 

Early  Scottish  o  (a);   Mid.  Scottish  oi  (o). 

Reg.  Sc.  Par.  before  1424  :  hors  3,  1 ;  ocht  4,  2 ;  mote  pp.  4,  2 ; 
scho  142,  1,  1466. 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  behovit  1,  gong  5. 

Buk  of  Luf,  fore  wepand  Ca  III  (roiss  Ca  II,  boith  Ca  III, 
loist  id.,  roif  pret.  IV,  boit  VI,  cloikis  VI). 

Complaynt  of  Scotland  (holy  3),  foir  3,  voymbe  33,  voyme  60, 
hoilsum  61,  gong  67,  thole  78,  soir  76. 

Herald.  Coll.  MS.,  worthis  3,s.  < becomes'  62  (moir  13). 

Early  and  Mid.  Scot,  ai  (a). 

Reg.  Sc.  Par.  before  1424:  gait  3,  1;  laif  3,  2;  haif  4,  2;  saip 

4,  1 ;  aile  4,  1 ;  hais  32,  4,  1 ;  aithe  4,1;  'gif  ony  burgess  haif  4, 
1 ;  traist  4,  2;  thai,  'those'  4,  2;  aieris,  heirs  4,  2;  maist  5, 1 ;  haill 

5,  1 ;  haile  9,  1 ;  baith  1469  (ai  common  after  1424). 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  faire  4,  rais  vp  5,  agayne  5,  maist  6,  maid  6, 
vndergais  6,  wayk  8,  thair  9,  mair  11,  maidenis  22,  gaynstand  22, 
betraisis  25,  aithe  27,  gais  37,  fais, ' foes'  38,  airly  51. 


86      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Buk  of  Luf,  mair  Prol.,  thai,  haif  ib.,  claithis  ib.,  daill  ib.,  traist 
ib.,  glaid  ib.,  baith  Ca  III,  phair,  'fair'  ib.,  wrait  pret.  Ca  IV,  bair 
pret.  Ca  V,  raif  pret.  ib.,  laif  Ca  VI,  waik,  'weak'  Ca  VI,  hair, 
'hoar'  end. 

Port.  Nobil.,  bair,  'bare'  1,  quhair  1,  graip, ' grape'  1,  gais  2. 

Bellenden,  gaif,  straik,  maist,  baith,  mair  m.,  aith,  paill. 

Complaynt  of  Scot.,  mair  2,  thair  2,  skail  27,  cheaip  38,  hayr, 
'hoar'  59,  glaid, 'glad'  63,  laif  ib.,  sair,  hail  sb.  72,  haif  176. 

Herald.  Coll.  MS.,  thair  1,  haid,  'had'  5,  gaif  9,  straing  11,  fair 
63,  daile  69. 

Pageant,  claithe,  taiknis,  craift,  fair. 

Early  and  Middle  Scottish  ei  (e). 

Reg.  Sc.  Par.  before  1424:  scheip  3,  1 ;  threide  gen  3,  2;  quheit 
3,  2 ;  deir  3,  2 ;  geif  4,  1 ;  steill  4,  1 ;  weit  4,  1 ;  geyss  4,  2 ;  eit  4, 
2;  deill  4,  2;  neidfull  5,  Ij  feild  5,  1;  feit  pi.  5,  1;  weir  9,  1, 
1424;  keip  ib.,  seyne  ib.,  wild  meir,  'mare'  ib.  2,  cheiss  ib.,  eilde 
ib.,  beir  10,  1,  1424;  zeilde  ib.,  leide  (plumbum)  ib.,  treis  ib.  2, 
speidfull  ib.,  cheik,  'cheek'  11,  1 ;  weill  154,  1,  1469  ;  zeir  be  zeir 
ib.  2;  meil  ib.;  seik  156,  1,  1469;  cheiss  158,  1,  1471;  neid  158, 
2;  weir,  'wear'  159,  1,  1471;  greit  535,  2,  1513;  geif  624,  1, 
1540;  deid, 'death'  625,  1,  1540;  keiping  732,  1,  1558. 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  eyne  5,  feicht  25,  cleine  26,  greid  30. 

Buk  Luf,  their  Introd.,  forbeir  ib.,  deidis  Prol.,  speik  ib.,  deir 
Ca  I,  manheid  ib.,  weill  ib.,  neir  ib.,  leidis  3,  sing  Ca  II,  eild  sb. 
ib.,  deid  ib.,  beistis  ib.,  fleid  pret.  ib.,  keipe  jow  imper.  ib.,  leif  at 
eise  ib.,  beir  ib.,  fals  heid  ib.,  seik  sick  ib.,  heid  Ca  III,  weir  war, 
reid,  red,  'read'  vb.,  leit,  'let'  breist  dreidfull  Ca  IV,  deit  pret. 
feir  Ca  V,  cheiss,  feistis  Ca  VI,  greit,  speid,  teith. 

Port.  Nob.,  heid  1,  leif  1,  keip  1,  weill  1,  heirfor  2,  deid,  deed  2, 
heit  3,  seiknes  3,  seikes,  '  seeks '  4. 

Bellenden,  speik,  weill,  sweitnes,  deith  m.,  weill  sb.,  feirs  m., 
feild. 

Complaynt  of  Scotland,  veil  1,  scheip  2,  veyr  5,  deit  12,  heir  13, 
eild  20,  eird  20,  deipnes  21,  jeiris  22,  seik,  'seek'  23,  heyt  24,  eyt 
24,  treis  26,  seid,  reid  27,  neir  31,  reik  42,  breyd  43,  eiris  44,  keip 
45,  speik  60,  veird  64,  beiris,  bears  sb.  pi.  73,  leiful  77,  veyre  80, 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      87 

deir  127,  meyd-  (mid)  vyf  129,  lit  pret.  156,  jeid  'went '  159,  <neid 
forse  to  cheis'  163,  reip  169. 

Herald  Coll.  MS.,  Heir  1,  leif  1,  treis  1,  weill  2,  reid,  <  read '  inf. 
4,  teiris  5,  speik  5,  sleip  5,  mein,  ( mien '  sb.  7,  leir,  ( teach '  7,  beir 
9,  leif  10,  dreid  10,  sweir  55,  deid  adj.  56,  feit  57,  beist  58,  keipis, 
kepis  59,  eird  59,  bleid  to  deid  62,  tbeingis  23  v.  deid  id.,  babeis 
24,  eilk  24,  reit,  'red*  25. 

VII. 

Remarks  on  Grammar. 

The  most  characteristic  Scotticisms  which  appear  in  the  prose 
are  in  the  use  of:  a,  ane;  to,  til)  the  present  participle  in  -and  and 
the  relatives. 


In  the  Early  Scottish  a  was  used  before  consonants,  ane  before 
vowels  and  initial  h}  as  in  the  more  Southern  English.  As  might 
be  expected  from  the  exact  language  of  the  Acts  the  indefinite 
article  is  rather  infrequently  met  with.  The  data  furnished  by 
the  Acts,  while  by  no  means  l  complete/  l  are  sufficient  to  show 
that  the  two  forms  had  their  respective  phonetic  usages,  until  the 
stronger  ane  crowded  the  other  out  towards  the  end  of  the  15th 
Century.  Thus  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  look  to  a  French  source 
for  an  explanation  of  the  wider  function  of  ane  in  Middle  Scotch, 
nor  would  it  be  proper  to  consider  ane  as  '  obsolete '  for  the  pre- 
ceding '  300  years.' 2 

Examples:  Reg.  Scot.  Par.  before  1424:  'of  ane  hundrethe 
woweskynnis  3,  1 ;  of  a  last  3,  1  ;  of  a  wawe  3,  2 ;  in  ane  othir 
4,  1  ;  a  burgess  4,  2 ;  a  man  3,  1 ;  till  ane  othir  4,  2 ;  a  kirkman 
1424 ;  half  ane  ox  1424 ;  be  ane  inquest  1424 ;  of  ane  annuel 
1466;  ane  indenture  1488;  ane  horse  1488;  in  ane  archibischoprik 
1488;  a  mare  soume  1488;  then — ane  reverend  fadir  1491;  ane 
decrett  1491 ;  be  ane  bill  1491  ;  ane  testimoniale  1491  ;  (of  a 
chapellary  1495;)  ane  breue  of  pley  1503;  ane  wane,  ane  hors, 
ane  pleucht  1503. 

1  Dialect.  South.  Counties,  p.  57.  *  lb. 


88      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  in  ane  hermitage,  in  a  contree  3,  ane  end  3,  a 
worthy  knycht  3,  sa  noble  ane  office  10,  a  thik  wod  3,  a  wilder- 
ness 4,  a  grete  seruitude  11,  a  lord  11,  ane  onderlout  or  a  servant 
13,  till  ane  othir  16. 

Buk  of  Luv,  ane  insasiable  beist  Ca  II ;  ane  othir  province  Ca 
IV;  ane  epistle  ib. ;  ane  abbey  VII ;  ane  anceant  ib. ;  a  woman 
Ca  II;  a  philosophour  ib. ;  a  cokkatryss  ib. ;  a  stynkand  roiss  ib. ; 
a  box  ib. ;  a  lyon  ib. ;  a  tiger,  a  poyet  ib. — but '  ane  serpent '  Ca 
II ;  ane  preist  Ca  VII ;  ane  bischopp  ib. ;  ane  gud  toune  ib. 

Port.  Nobil.,  a  man  1,  a  nobill  1,  a  glotoun  3,  a  perfit  5;  ane 
othir  1,  2,  ane  unhonest  J, — ane  rud-  man  1,  ane  nobill  man  2,  ane 
fre-  2,  ane  man  2,  ane  ful  wame  4. 

Bellenden :  ane  is  the  regular  article ;  so  in  the  *  Complaynt  of 
Scotland/  the  Herald.  Coll.  MSS.  and  the  <  Pageant.' 

1  to  >  and  '  til: 

In  the  Early  Scottish  to  usually  came  before  a  consonant,  til 
before  a  vowel  or  initial  h.  This  usage  unlike  that  of  a,  ane 
continued  far  into  the  Middle  Period  when  cases  of  to  before  a 
vowel,  and  til  before  a  consonant,  are  also  common. 

Reg.  Scot.  Par.,  till  his  nechbour  4,  1 ;  till  answer  5,  1 ;  till 
inforss  9,  1  to  be  11,  1 ;  till  keip  thame  9,  2  till  cum  11,  1. — 
Later  in  the  15th  Cen.  til  gives  way  to  to  before  vowels  (h) : 
to  interrupt  413,  1,  1491 ;  to  ansuer  414,  2,  1491 ;  to  him  1491, 
413,  2;  to  our  317, 1,  1485 ;  to  have  id.  287,  2 ;  to  ilkane  245,  2, 
1478;  to  his  1479;  184,  1  ;  to  acquite  184,  2,  1479 ;— but,  till 
his  instance  165,  2,  1471 ;  till  hir  535,  2,  1513. 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  to  schaw,  to  gouerne,  till  a  grete  semblee  1,  till 
all  3,  till  his  barnis  3  (till  watere  4),  to  mak  4,  till  him  5,  6,  till  it 
6,  till  have  7,  8,  till  hald  12,  till  elde,  till  a  gong  man  13;— but 
to  almychty  God  4,  til  gouerne  7,  till  to  be  19,  till  derub,  till 
desaue  23,  til  mekenes  52. 

Buk  of  Luf,  till  eild  Ca  II,  till  vnderstand  Ca  III,  till  him  Ca 
IV,  till  hir  ib.,  till  his  vncle  Ca  VII,  till  all  otheris  end,— but : 
to  endure  me  Prol.  to  haif  ib.  to  hir  brother  Ca  IV. 

Port.  Nobil.,  to  throughout  the  fragment. 

Bellenden  :  to  before  vowels  and  consonants. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600,      89 

Complaynt  of  Scotland:  As  the  use  of  to  and  til  has  been 
referred  to  in  connection  with  the  authorship  of  the  Complaynt 
it  has  seemed  best  to  tabulate  the  cases. 


BEFORE   CONS. 

BEFORE  H. 

5- 

VOWEL. 

TOTAL. 

'to' 

1024 

19 

14 

46 

1103 

'til' 

47 

59 

1 

97 

204 

1307 

til  was,  therefore,  the  regular  form  before  a  vowel,  or  h,  and 
to  before  a  consonant.  Where  one  has  encroached  upon  the  func- 
tion of  the  other  the  cases  are  nearly  the  same :  47  of  til  -\-  cons, 
and  46  of  to  -j-  vowel.  On  comparing  this  use  with  that  of  Sir 
David  Lyndesay,  we  find  that  in  his  works  (E.  E.  T.  S.)  there 
are  2,001  cases  of  to  -f  cons,  and  502  of  til  -f-  vowel.  In  other 
words  .2  of  all  cases  in  Lyndesay  show  til,  while  .156  of  all  cases 
have  til  in  the  Complaynt.  The  use  of  til  in  Lyndesay '  is,  there- 
fore, rather  greater  than  in  the  Complaynt. 

Herald.  Coll.  MS.,  to  regularly;  so  in  i Pageant.'  Pittscottie 
(Dalyell)  rarely  has  til  except  in  the  compound  prepositions  '  heir 
intilP  p.  383,  'thair  intilT  387. 

Participles. 

The  northern  form  of  the  present  participle  in  -and  is  common 
to  all  Scottish  prose  of  the  earlier  periods.  Examples  of  the 
southern  form  in  -ing  are  sufficiently  frequent  to  require  notice. 

Reg.  Scot.  Par.,  as  tuiching  the  electioune  155,  1,  1469;  quhilk 
being  160,  2,  1471;  extending  215,  2;  charging  166,  2,  1471; 
frequently  met  with  in  the  Acts. 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  is  consistent  in  the  use  of  -and. 

Buk  of  Luf,  beseiking  Pro],  wenyng  Ca  IV,  seing  id.,  being  id. 

Port.  Nobil.,  remanyng  1  (kneland  and),  saynge  1. 

Bellenden,  musing,  gangand  knawing,  pertenyng,  being,  saying ; 
to  59  cases  of  -and  (Chronicle,  extract)  there  were  44  in  -ing. 

1  Cf.  Murray,  Complaynt,  Introd.,  p.  ciii.  "  The  sparing  use  of  til  for  to— so 
common  in  Fife  and  Lothian  at  the  present  day,  and  equally  so  in  Lyndesay,  &e." 


90      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Complaynt  of  Scotland,  forms  in  -ing  are  not  common  :  cf.  con- 
sidering 90. 

Herald.  Coll.  MS.  and  Pageant  forms  in  -and  predominate. 
The  southern  form  is  the  most  striking  anglicism  of  Knox  and 
Bannatyne. 

Gerundives  and  gerunds  in  -ing,  -in,  -en  are  common ;  cf.  Hay, 
B.  O.  K.,  '  quhat  of  thair  landis  gouernyng,  and  of  thair  peple 
mayntening  and  of  thair  peceable  persones  defending/  p.  44. — Eec. 
Scot.  Par.,  'of  ]>e  brekin  of  mennis  orchardis/  12,  1,  1424;  (]>e 
stanchyn  of  slachtir*  158,  1,  1471;  .'to  ]>e  enschevyn  of  maneswer- 
ing'  159, 1, 1471 ;  and  withhaldin  of  twa  acris  161, 1, 1471 ;  anent 

)>e  wrangwiss  stoppin  and  impediment  makin  213,  1,  ;  ']>e 

....  withhaldin  ....  of  a  kow  215,  2.  Present  part.,  in  -in,  -yn, 
are  found,  'landis  pertenyn  to  ]>e  said  James/  215,  1. 

The  Relatives. 

In  the  Early  Period  \at,  at ;  quhilk(-is)  and  quha  are  the  rela- 
tive pronouns.  The  demonstrative  \e  quhilk(-is)  also  does  service, 
as  in  Wiclif  and  the  older  language.1 

at  (==]>at)  often  found  in  the  Early  Period  seems  to  have 
been  merely  a  worn  form  of  \at.  This  is  indeed  proved  by  the 
careless  use  of  initial  \  in  the  conjunction  \at,  the  forms  at 
and  \at  appearing  nearly  side  by  side.  The  vulgar  'at  =  that  in 
use  to-day  may  be  compared,  the  preceding  letters  often  determin- 
ing whether  the  full  form  shall  be  clipped  or  not :  a  dental  stop, 
for  example,  may  thus  absorb  the  following  spirant.  Traces  of 
this  action  may  be  seen  in  the  Early  Scottish.  Reg.  Scot.  Par. : 
before  1424,  ]>e  byar  |>at  by  is  thame  3,  1,  'J>at  thar  be  maid  a  buk 
.  .  .  and  at  ]nr  bukis  be  present  9,  2, 1424 ;  al  gudis  J;at  ar  taxt  ib., 
'  and  at  ]>ai  j>at  has  crufis  to  call  the  sheriffis  at  tuk  398,  1,  without 
at  }?ai  haf  398,  2,  that  (]>at,  at)  is  the  favorite  relative  in  the  Acts, 
quhilk{-is)  is  much  less  common,  and  quha  while  rare,  is  found ; 
'  men  and  vomen  ...  to  quhame '  61, 1, 1425  ;  (the  phrase  'quhame 
God  assolze'  1488  may  be  noticed  with  'that  god  assoillie.'  Liber 
de  Melros  1389);  on  quham  6,  1 ;  for  quham  he  will  mak  redy 

1  Fischer,  Die  Sprache  Wiclif 's ;  Koch,  Engl.  Gram.,  II,  287 :  Morsbach,  p.  129. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      91 

payment  11,  1;  throu  J>e  bischoppis  .  .  .  quhame  it  efferis  11,  2; 
officiaris  ...  to  quhome  13,  1  ;  J;e  Juge  before  quhame  13,  1 ;  J>e 
partie  to  quham  155,  1,  ministeris  to  quham  322,  1. 

Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  that  is  the  regular  relative,  quhilk  is  rarer; 
quha  occurs:  'of  quham/  p.  17. 

Buk  of  Luf,  quha  is  common :  the  spelling  quhom,  quhois  is 
clearly  southern,  quhois  Ca  II  to  quhom  Ca  III ;  of  quhais  bewt6 
ib.,  quhom  of  je  haif  spokyn  ib.,  quhom  scho  beheld  Ca  IV,  quhom 
scho  presentit  ib. 

Bellenden,  that  and  quhilk  are  the  relatives.  In  the  14th  Buke 
of  the  Chronicle,  for  example,  there  are  25  cases  of  that  and  40  of 
quhilk.'  Quha  is  rare:  amang  quham  183  (L),  of  quhom  2,  246, 
quhom  i  beleve  2,  304. 

Complaynt  of  Scotland,  that  is  the  favorite  relative ;  there  being 
308  cases  of  that,  and  1 52  of  quhilk(-is),  or  with  the  demonstrative 
form  the  quhilk(-is),  179.      Quha  is  of  frequent  occurrence. 

Bellenden  is  the  only  writer  examined  who  prefers  quhilk  to 
that.  If,  therefore,  the  old  at  =  ('at,  that)  be  simply  the  worn 
form  of  that,  and  by  reason  of  increased  literary  culture  and 
anology  with  English  '  that/  resumed  the  full  form,  it  may  be  said 
that  that  as  a  relative  was  dominant  in  both  Periods. 

If  quhilk(-is),  the  quhilk(-is)  was  used  after  a  French  fashion1 
we  should  always  expect  the  form  in  -is  after  a  plural  subject ; 
but  the  singular  in  -is  is  found.  "  Item  anentis  ]>e  stanching  of 
slanchtir  quhilkis  is  sa,"  &c,  52,  2.  Rec.  Scot.  Par., i  for  \>e  quhil- 
kis  restorance'  214,  2. — '  quhilkis  honoure/  Hay,  B.  O.  K.,  25. 

The  '  Complaynt 9  has  4  cases  of  quhilkis  in  the  singular,  with- 
out the  definite  article :  quhilk  without  the  ending  occurs  22  times 
in  the  plural.2  In  Pittscottie  (Daly ell)  that  occurs  142  times  to 
99  of  quhilk  and  21  of  who  (sic). 

A  few  other  forms  may  be  noticed.  When  verbs  are  separated 
from  their  personal  pronoun,  or  when  they  follow  a  relative,  they 
take  the  ending  -is,  sing,  and  plural,  in  all  persons.  With  this 
well-known  peculiarity  of  the  Scottish  is  to  be  ranked  the  form 
of  the  verb  '  to  have/  '  til  haif/  &c,  which  in  the  3  p.  pi.  most 

*Dial.  South.  Count.,  p.  195. 

2 In  Sir  D.  Lyndesay's l Satyre'  'that'  as  rel.  occurs  66  times,  'quhilk'  39  times, 
'  the  quhilk '  5  times.  --=^5^^ 

U2U7ERSIT7) 


I 


92      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

commonly  appears  as  hes  (the  3  p.  sing.)  without  the  personal 
pronoun.  From  these  it  has  been  inferred,  reasoning  also  from 
sporadic  cases,  that  the  verb  '  to  be '  when  unaccompanied  by  the 
personal  pronoun,  takes  the  form  is  in  the  plural  in  all  persons. 
That  this  is  not  the  case  a  single  reference  to  the  '  Complaynt '  will 
show. 

a,  without  the  relative:  'al  thir  nyne  speris  .  .  .  ar  enclosit' 
48,  7 ;  '  the  day  and  the  nycht  ar '  49,  32  ;  "  tua  summers  ar  "  52, 
20  j  '  man  and  beast  and  al  vther  thing  .  .  .  ar  subject '  56,  21 ; 
"  men  and  wemmen  of  ane  tendir  complexione  ar "  57,  4 ;  '  dogis 
ar'  57,  33;  ' grace  and  virtue  ar?  77,  34;  'realmis  ar  nocht'  82, 
12;  'branchis  of  them  ar'  160,  20. 

b,  with  the  relative :  'the  necessair  thingis  that  ar  requirit '  131, 
29  ;  '  ve  that  ar  scheiphirdis '  61,  7  ;  'the  tua  vinters  that  thai  hef 
ar '  52, 19  ;  *  evil  accidentis  that  ar '  58,  3  ;  *  sternis  quhilk  ar  callit ' 
38,  31 ;  '  Cancer  and  Capricorn,  quhilk  ar  twa  solstice  singis '  50, 
13;  'Englisch  men  quhilkis  ar'  27,  8;  'Aries  and  Libra  quhilkis 
ar*  50,  11;  'princis  and  princessis  quhilkis  ar'  3,  14;  'tennis, 
quhilkis  ar?  16,  14;  'the  detractione  of  innyful  gramariaris, 
quhilkis  ar'  17,  28. 

The  introductory  '  there  is '  (es  gibt)  is  always  singular.  Com- 
playnt :  '  ther  is  tua  uthir  circlis '  50,  9 ;  '  there  is  diverse  vthir 
sternis'  58,  9;  'of  the  quhilk  nummir  ther  is  iiij  callit'  61,  8; 
'ther  is  .  .  .  mony  rasons'  51, 14 ;  this  is  the  regular  use  elsewhere. 


For  Scottish  prose  of  the  14th,  15th  and  early  16th  Centuries, 
it  is  hard  to  find  any  one  characteristic  or  line  of  development 
which  may  with  certainty  be  assigned  to  a  particular  period.  The 
remains  are  scanty  at  best,  and  with  the  possible  exception  of  Par- 
liamentary Records  and  Burgh  Laws,  all  that  has  been  preserved 
may  be  made  to  lie  under  the  suspicion  of  undue  influence  upon 
the  individual  writer  of  French,  English  or  Latin;  this  would 
vitiate  a  generalization  as  to  the  development  of  the  language  as 
a  body. 

It  has  been  considered  impracticable  to  connect  the  prose  speci- 
mens with  any  particular  locality,  physical  or  dialectic,  in  which 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      93 

they  may  have  had  their  origin.  This  omission  would  not  appear 
to  be  productive  of  much  error,  when  the  various  Scottish  Records 
of  different  places  have  not  as  yet  been  shown  to  present  serious 
dialectical  differences. 

It  may  not  be  improper  in  closing  to  emphasize  the  conviction 
that  the  language  of  the  Lowlands  in  the  Early  and  Middle 
Periods  was  much  more  uniform  than  has  ordinarily  been  con- 
sidered. Middle  English  activity  in  the  North,  extending  certainly 
to  the  'Scottis  See/  developed  the  language  which  later,  under 
the  name  of  Scotch,  disguised  the  origin  of  many  old  terms  and 
expressions. 


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Birrel.    The  Diary  of  Robert  B.  Burges  of  Edinburgh ;  passages  from  1532-1605. 

MS.  Adv.  Libr.,  33,  7,  28  (W.  5,  10). 
Blind  Harry's  Wallace  bl.  1.     MS.  notes  by  D.  Macpherson.    Laing  Collection, 

No.  776,  p.  52.     Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 
Bonaparte,  Prince  L.  N.    On  English  Dialects.    Philol.  Soc.  Trans.,  1875,  p.  678. 
Brandl.     Middle  English  Literature  in  Paul's  Grundriss. 
Buke  of  the  Seven  Sages  (transcript  from  Asloane's  MS.).     Laing  MSS.,  481,  p. 

33.     Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 
Burgh  Record  Society  Publications. 
Ancient  Laws  and  Customs  of  the  Burghs  of  Scotland,  vol.  I,  A.  D.  1124- 

1424,  1868.     Extracts  from  the  Records  of  the  Burgh  of  Edinburgh,  vol.  I, 

A.  D.  1403-1528, 1869;  vol.  2,  1528-1557,  1871 ;  v.  3,  1557-1571,  1875;  vol. 

4,  1573-1589,  1882. 
Charters  and  other  Documents  relating  to  the  city  of  Edinburgh,  A.  D. 

1143-1540,  1871. 
Extracts  from  the  Council  register  of  the  Burgh  of  Aberdeen,  1625-1642, 

1871 ;  vol.  2,  1643-1747,  1872. 


96      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Miscellany  of  the  Scottish  Burgh  Kecords  Society,  1881. 

Extracts  from  the  Records  of  the  Burgh  of  Glasgow,  A.  D.  1573-1662, 

1876-1881. 
Charters  and  Documents  relating  to  the  Burgh  of  Peebles,  A.  D.  1165-1710, 

1872. 
Burton,  J.  H.    History  of  Scotland,  8  vols.,  1875. 
Catechisme,  The  ...  set  furth  be  J>e  maist  reverend  father  in  God  John,  Archb. 

of  St.  Andrews  (prentit  at  Sanct  Androus,  1552,  be  John  Scot).    Adv.  Signet 

and  Univ.  Libraries,  Edin. 
Chalmeriana  Collection  of  ancient  Scottish  poetry,  1286-1706 ;  6  vols.     Laing 

MSS.,  521,  p.  35.     Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 
Collections  on  Sir  David  Lyndesay,  of  the  Mount.    Laing  MSS.,  520,  p.  35. 

Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 
Cherry  and  the  Slae  and  other  old  Scottish  poems,  16th  Cen.     Laing  MSS.,  447, 

31.    Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 
'Craft  of  Deing,'  'Ratis  Raving,'  &c.      E.  E.  T.  S.,  1870  (MS.  Camb.  Univ., 

KK.  I,  5). 
1  Chrystis  Kirk  on  the  Green,'  etc.    Laing  MSS.,  519,  34.    Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 
Complaynt  of  Scotland,  1549.     2  copies  in  British  Mus.,  Grenville,  5440  and 

C.  21,  a.  56.    Advocates'  Library,  H.  34,  a.  19.    This  copy  is  completed  from 

Leyden's  edition ;  all  the  leaves  having  been  inlaid,  it  is  impossible  to  see 

the  inserted  portion,  as  shown  by  the  Brit.  Mus.,  C.  21,  a.  56,  which  is  the 

best  preserved.     Leyden,  Complaynt  with  diss.,  Edin.,  1801.    Murray,  E.  E. 

T.  S.,  1872. 
Confession  of  Faith.     British  Mus.,  Glenville,  11837. 
Diurnal  of  Occurrents,  1513-1575.     Bannatyne  Club,  1838. 
Defence  of  Age  and  Recovery  of  Youth,  translated  by  the  famous  dark  and  ryght 

experte  Medyciner,  Arnolde  de  Nova  Villa.     Bl.  1. ;  notes  by  Laing,  in  his 

collection,  636,  43.    Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 
Dunbar.    Schipper,  Sein  Leben  und  seine  Gedichte.    Berlin,  1884. 

Poems  of,  ed.  Schipper,  pts.  1,  2,  3,  4.     Vienna,  1891-2-3. 

Edinburgh.    MS.  vol.  of  extracts  from  minute  books  of  the  Town  Council  of 

Edinburgh,  1442-1579.    Adv.  Libr.,  31,  4,  9  (W.  2,  25). 
Ellis.    Early  English  Pronunciation.    E.  E.  T.  S. 

On  Lowland  Scotch.    Philol.  Soc.  Trans.,  1882-3. 

Expedition  into  Scotland  of  the  most  woorthely  fortunate  prince  Edward,  Duke 

of  Somerset,  into  Scotland,  1547.    London,  mdxlviii,  Brit.  Mus.,  Grenville, 

5440  (English). 
Geddes,  Rev.  Dr.  Alex.    Three  Scottish  poems  with  previous  dissertation  on 

Scoto-Saxon  dialect.    Scot.  Antiq.  Soc,  I,  1792,  p.  402.    Interesting  histori- 
cally, in  connection  with  the  views  of  Chalmers  and  Pinkerton  on  the  origin 

of  the  Scottish  language. 
Grant,  James.    History  of  the  Burgh  Schools  of  Scotland.    London,  1876. 
Grant  MSS.    Adv.  Libr.,  31,  2,  2,  vol.  2— Scotch. 
Hahn,   Odwart.     Zur  Verbal  und   Nominal  flexion   bei  den  Schot.   Dichtern 

Barbour-Burns.    Prog,  der  Victoria  schule,  Berlin,  3  pts.,  1887-1889. 
Hay.    The  Buk  of  the  Ordre  of  Knychthede.    Abbotsford  Club,  1847. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      97 

Henschel.     Darstellung  der  flexionslehre  in  John  Barbour's  Bruce.     Leipzig, 

diss.,  1886. 
Historie  and  Life  of  K.  James  the  Sext ;  16th  Cen.    MS.  Laing,  223,  18.    Edin. 

Univ,  Libr.     Cf.  p.  Ill,  Prelim,  notice  to  Bannatyne  Club's  ed.,  1825. 
Horstmann,  C.     Barbour's  des  schott.  Nationaldichters  Legend.  Samml.     Heil- 

bronn,  1881,  1882. 
Innes.    Scotch  Legal  Antiquities,  Edin.,  1872,  and  in  Acts,  Sc.  Par.,  vol.  II. 
Institution  of  Court  of  Session,  1532,  with  Collection  of  Practiques.    Laing  MSS., 

388  a,  28.     Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 
Irlandia,  John  de.     MS.  System  of  Theology,  4o  paper ;  Latin  quotations  in  red. 

Adv.  Libr.,  W.  4,  4,  1490  (Scotch,  with  the  poem  in  Book  2 :  '  Moder  of 

God,'  formerly  attributed  to  Chaucer,  which  was  printed  by  Leyden,  in  Diss. 

to  'Complaynt'). 
Irving,  David,  LL.  D.   The  History  of  Scottish  Poetry.     Ed.  J.  A.  Carlyle,  M.  D. 

Edinb.,  1861. 
Kaufmann.    Traite"  de  la  langue  du  poete  ecossais  William  Dunbar.    Bonn,  1873. 
Knox.    Works.    Woodrow  Society  ed.     Laing,  1846. 

Historie  of  the  Church  of  Scotland.     Vautrollier's  edition;    suppressed. 

Preface,  part  of  Bk.  Ill  and  Bk.  IV  in  MS.,  Laing  Coll.,  634,  42.     Edin 
Univ.  Lib. 

History  of  the  Reformation,  1566,  reckoned  earliest  MS.     Laing,  210,  17. 

Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 

Same  MS.  Copies,  Laing,  Nos.  211, 212,  213  (17th  Cen.).    Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 

Lauder.  Ane  compendius  and  breve  Tractate  concernyng  the  office  and  dewties 
of  Kings,  etc.,  by  William  Lander,  1556,  printed  by  John  Scott,  Bl.  1. 
Notes  by  Laing,  in  his  coll.,  614,  41.  Edin.  Univ.  Libr.,  ed.  for  E.  E.  T.  S. 
by  Prof.  Fitzedward  Hall,  1864. 

Lange.  Chaucer's  einfluss  auf  die  original  dichtungen  des  Schotten  Gauin 
Douglas.    Leipzig,  diss.    Halle,  1882. 

Lesley,  Bishop.  'Discourse,'  Adv.  Libr.,  35,  4,  1,  by  John  Lesley,  Bish. 
of  Rosse. 

Leyden,  Dr.  John.  The  Complaynt  of  Scotland,  written  in  1548,  with  a  prelimi- 
nary dissertation  and  Glossary.    Edinb.,  1801. 

Lyndesay,  Sir  David,  of  the  Mount. — The  3  vol.  ed.  of  Lyndesay  by  Chalmers, 
182  ?,  should  not  be  overlooked  in  the  study  of  the  editions  by  Laing  and  the 
E.  E.  T.  S.  Chalmers  collected  much  material  in  his  notes  which  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  obtain  elsewhere. 

Heraldic  MS.  of  Arms,  in  the  Advocates'  Library ;  emblazoned,  1542.  (Pub- 
lished by  Wm.  Paterson,  Edin.,  1878 ;  ed.  by  David  Laing.) 

Poems,  ed.  1566.     MS.  notes  Laing  Coll.,  648,  44.     Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 

"      ed.  1588 ;  defects  supplied  in  MS.  Laing,  649,  44.    E.  U.  L. 

Ane  Dialog  betu[ix"|  Experience  and  an[e]  Courteour,  2  pt.    B.  L.,  Cop- 

mahovin  (?),  1552.     Brit.  Mus.,  C.  39,  d.  59,  60. 
Ane  Dialog  betuix  Experience  and  ane  Courteour,  &c.     B.  L.,  Jascuy, 

Paris  (?),  1558.     Brit.  Mus.,  C.  12,  9,  2. 
The  Complaynt  and  Testament  of  a  Popinjay.    London,  1538,  B.  L.    Brit. 

Mus.,  C.  12,  9,  2  (2). 
7 


98      A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

of  Kathellet  ?  Collectanea :   Domini  Davidis  Lindsay  de  Mounthe  Militis 

Leonis  Armorum  Regis.    Adv.  Libr.  (W.  4,  13),  31,  3,  20. 
Mackay,  C.     Dictionary  of  Lowland  Scotch.    Edin.,  1888. 
Mandeville,  Sir  John,  and  Occleve  (de  regim.  prin.) ;  imperfect.    MS.  Adv.  Libr., 

19,1,11  (JacV,  6,  21). 
Metrical  Romances  and  Moralizations.     MS.,  216  leaves,  'very  old;'  page  of 

contents  includes  only  to  fol.  96.    Adv.  Libr.,  19,  3,  1 ;  sm.  4o. 
Michel,  Francisque.     Les  Ecossais  en  France,  les  Francais  en  Ecosse.     Paris, 

1862. 

A  critical  inquiry  into  the  Scottish  Language.    Edin.,  1882. 

Morsbach,  Dr.  Lorenz.    Ueber  den  Ursprung  der  neuenglischen  Schriftsprache. 

Heilbronn,  1888. 
Murray,  Dr.  J.  A.  H.    Essay  on  the  Dialect  of  the  Southern  Counties  of  Scotland. 

Trans.  Philol.  Society,  1872. 

Complaynt  of  Scotland.    E.  E.  T.  S.,  1872. 

Neaves,  Lord.    Remarks  on  the  Scottish  Language.    Society  of  Antiquaries  of 

Scotland,  vol.  5,  pp.  65-78 ;  March,  1863.    One  of  the  first  attempts  at  critical 

study. 
Original  Scottish  Letters,  royal  and  other,  1539-1597.     Laing  MS.,  349,  26. 

Edin.  Univ.  L. 
Payne,  Joseph.     Norman  element  in  English  in  12th,  13th,  14th  Cen.     Trans. 

Philol.  Soc,  1868-9. 
Perth.     Superstitious  customs  of  Perth ;  1,  Corpus  Christi  Play ;  2,  Saint  Albert's 

(Sanctobertis)  play  (peculiar  to  the  Bakers) ;  3,  The  Dragon  hole  of  Kinnoul, 

&c.     MS.  Adv.  Libr.,  13,  1,  5,  fol.,  written  by  James  Scott,  Dec.  30th,  1788, 

and  collected  from  the  church  records. 
Merser's  Chronicle  of  Perth,  1210-1688  (Maitland  Club,  1831).    MS.  Adv. 

Libr.,  31,  1,  3. 
Pinkerton,  John.    History  of  Scotland.    From  accession  of  the  House  of  Stuart 

to  that  of  Mary,  with  appendices  of  original  papers,  2  vols.    London,  1797. 
Pittscottie,  Lindsay  of.    The  History  of  Scotland ;  from  21  Feb..  1436,  to  March, 

1565  (with  additions).     Edin.,  1728.     This  is  the  only  edition  found  which 

contains  the  poetical  introduction. 

Chronicle,  ed.  Dalyell.    Edin.,  1814. 

MS.  Harleian,  4687-62  d.,  fol.  149,  leaves  bound  up,  Nos.  145  and  848. 

Brit.  Mus. 

MS.  Laing,  216,  17.     Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 

MS.  Laing,  217,  17.    Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 

Pittscottie's  Chronicle,  Laing  Coll.,  583,  39.    Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 

Adv.  Libr.  MS.,  35,  4, 10,  and  35,  4,  11. 

Regiam  Majestatem,  1609.    Brit.  Mus.,  23,  c.  16. 

Colville  MS.   (transcript?).      Laing,   380,   27.      Edin.  Univ.   Libr.,   and 

381,  27. 
Retour  and  Royal  Warrant  of  Taxatioun  Sig.  Jac.  Ill,  26  Mar.,  1479.     Laing 

MSS.  Cat.  (pt.  2),  No.  53,  p.  1. 
Registrum  Epistolarum,  including  letters  from  Kings  of  England,  Scotland,  and 

foreign ;  14th,  15th  Cen.     MS.  vellum  Laing.     Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 


A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600.      99 

Rolment  of  Courtis,  by  Abacuk  Bisset.  Laing  MS. ;  16th  Cen.,  395,  28.  Edin. 
Univ.  Libr. 

Koss,  John  M.  Scottish  History  and  Literature  to  the  Period  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, ed.  James  Brown.    Glasgow,  1884. 

Scheibner,  Oscar.  Ueber  die  Herrschaft  der  franzos.  Sprache  in  England,  vom 
XI  bis  zum  XIV  Jahrh.    Annaberg  program,  1880. 

Scottish  Poems,  etc.  MS.,  Brit.  Mus.  Arundel,  285,  contains  I,  '  the  tabill  of 
Confessian'  by  Dunbar  (quoted  by  Dr.  Schipper,  ed.  Poems),  and  II,  'J>e 
proloug  of  }>e  passioun  of  crist.'  This  MS.  is  ornamented  with  wood-cuts, 
colored  by  hand  and  pasted  on  the  leaves ;  same  hand  throughout. 

Scottish  Eecord  Publications. 

I.  The  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland,  edited  by  Thomas  Thomson,  Deputy 

Clerk  Register,  and  Cosmo  Innes,  Prof,  of  History  in  the  Univ.  of  Edin., 
1814-1875.  In  12  vols. ;  Nos.  II,  III,  IV,  VII,  IX  being  out  of  print  (Oct., 
1892). 

II.  The  Acts  of  the  Lords  of  Council  in  Civil  Causes  (Acta  Dominorum  Concilii), 
A.  D.  1478-1495,  ed.  Th.  Thomson,  1839. 

III.  The  Acts  of  the  Lords  Auditors  of  Causes  and  Complaints  (Acta  Dom. 
Audit),  A.  D.  1466-1494,  ed.  Th.  Thomson,  1839. 

IV.  Retours  of  Services  of  Heirs  (Inquis.  ad  capell.  Dom.  Reg.  retornat.  abbrev.), 
A.  D.  1600-1700;  ed.  Th.  Thomson,  1811-1816.  3  vols.;  II,  III  out  of 
print ;  I,  index. 

V.  Registrum  Magni  Sigilli  Scotorum.     Vol.  I,  1306-1424,  ed.  Th.  Thomson, 

1814;  vols.  II,  III,  ed.  J.  Balfour  Paul  and  Jno.  Maitland  Thomson;  vols. 
IV,  V,  VI,  VII,  ed.  J.  M.  Thomson,  1882-92  (vols.  II-VII,  1424-1620). 

VI.  Ledger  of  Andrew  Halyburton,  Conservator  of  the  Privileges  of  the  Scottish 
Nation  in  the  Netherlands,  1492-1503 ;  ed.  Cosmo  Innes,  1867. 

VII.  Accounts  of  the  Lord  High  Treasurer  of  Scotland,  vol.  I,  1473-1498 ;  ed. 
(Dr.)  Th.  Dickson,  Curator  of  the  Historical  Dep't  H.  M.  Gen'l  Register 
House,  1877. 

VIII.  Register  of  the  Privy  Council  of  Scotland,  ed.  John  Hill  Burton,  D.  C.  L., 
LL.  D.,  Historiog.  Royal  for  Scotland  (vols.  I,  II),  and  David  Masson,  LL.  D., 
Prof,  of  Rhetoric  and  English  Literature,  Edinb.  Univ.  (Vols.  III-IX), 
1877-91 ;  vols.  I-IX,  1545-1616. 

IX.  The  Exchequer  Rolls  of  Scotland  (Rot.  Scacc.  Regum.  Scot.).  Vol.  1, 1264- 
1359,  ed.  John  Stuart,  LL.  D.,  and  Geo.  Burnett,  LL.  D.,  Lyon  King ;  vols. 
II-XII,  1359-1507,  ed.  Geo.  Burnett;  vol.  XIII,  1508-1513,  ed.  G.  Burnett 
and  R.  J.  G.  Mackay,  LL.  D.,  1878-91. 

X.  Calendar  of  Documents  relating  to  Scotland,  preserved  in  H.  M.  Public 
Record  Office,  London,  ed.  Jos.  Bain,  F.  S.  A.,  Scot.,  1881-8,  1108-1509. 
4  vols. 

XII.  The  Hamilton  Papers :  Letters  and  Papers  illustrating  the  political  rela- 
tions of  England  and  Scotland  in  the  16th  Century,  ed.  Jos.  Bain,  F.  S.  A., 
Scot.    2  vols.,  1532-1590,  1890-92. 

XL  Fac-simile  of  National  MSS.  of  Scotland,  3  vols.,  fol.,  1867-72:  'Chronicles 
of  the  Picts  and  Scots  (1867),  and  Documents  illustrative  of  the  History  of 
Scotland  (1870)  are  out  of  print.' 


100    A  Study  in  the  Language  of  Scottish  Prose  before  1600. 

Scrimzeour.  MS.  treatise  on  Heraldry.  Adv.  Lib.,  31,  5,  2,  sm.  fol.  This  MS. 
is  the  same  as  the.  Lyndesay  '  Collectanea,'  except  the  last  three  articles. 
In  a  note  probably  by  Sir  James  Balfour,  it  is  said  to  have  been  written  by 
1  Mr.  Thomas  Scrymgeour  of  Myris,  Maister  of  Wark  to  the  Kingis  Majestic' 
This  copy  belonged  to  Sir  J.  Balfour,  who  notes  at  the  end, '  probably  inaccu- 
rately,' that  it  is  a  translation  by  an  Englishman  of  a  French  MS.,  out  of 
which  Gerard  Leigh  has  taken  his  book  of  Heraldrie,  called  the  'Accidents 
of  Armorie.'     See  MS.  Catalogue. 

Sibbald's  Historical  Collections;  MS.  fol.  Adv.  Libr.,  33,  3,  23.  See  Nos.  2  and 
3.     '  Scotch  MSS.  in  England,  France,  Germany,'  &c. 

Sinclair,  John.    Observations  on  the  Scottish  Dialect,  1782. 

Skene,  Sir  John.  '  De  verborum  significatione,'  1597,  with  MS.  notes  and  addi- 
tions.    Laing  Coll.,  619,  41.     Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 

same.     Brit.  Mus.,  1641,  501,  b.  1 ;  and  v.  Regiam  Majestatem. 

Sturmfels,  Anglia,  VIII,  3 ;  IX,  4.  '  Der  altfranzosische  vokalismus  in  Mittel 
englischen. 

Thommerel.  Recherches  sur  la  fusion  du  franco-norman  et  du  l'anglo-saxon. 
Paris,  1844. 

Winyet,  Ninian.  Certain  Tractates,  printed  by  John  Scott,  1562.  Edin.  Univ 
Libr. ;  ed.  Scot.  Text  Soc,  1888. 

Wood,  Dr.  Henry.  Chaucer's  influence  upon  King  James  I  of  Scotland  as  poet 
Leipzig,  Diss. ;  Halle,  1879.     (Amer.  Journal  Philol.,  vol.  3.) 

Wyntoun's  Cronykil ;  Seton's  Copy,  1724.    Laing  MS.,  431,  30.    Edin.  Univ.  Libr. 

The  Oryginall  Chronykill  be  Andro  of  Wyntoun,  Prior  of  St.  Serfis  Inche 

in  Lochlevin;  sm.  fol.,  1480.     Adv.  Libr.,  19,  2,  3  (a.  7,  1).     Another  copy, 
more  complete,  begin.  16th  Cen.,  19,  2,  4. 


NOTE. 


I  am  in  receipt  of  a  notice  of  two  papers  read  before  the  (British)  Bibliographical 
Society,  by  E.  Gordon  Duff,  Esq.,  in  which  two  Scottish  books  and  a  fragment 
are  described.  The  books  were  "  translated  from  the  French  into  Scotch  and 
printed  at  Paris  in  1503  by  Verard."  They  are  the  The  Kalendar  of  Shepherdes 
and  The  Art  of  Good  Living  and  Dying.  Mr.  Duff  refers  me  to  a  fac-simile  of  the 
first  named  book,  edited  by  Dr.  Sommar,  and  lately  published. 

These  books  antedate  by  four  years  Andro  My  liar's  earliest  published  work  in 
Scotland,  at  least  such  as  has  been  preserved. 

The  fragment,  a  leaf  of  a  Scotch  Donatus,  was  found  by  Mr.  Duff  some  years 
ago  at  Aberdeen.  It  is  older  by  its  language  alone  than  any  early  Scottish  print 
that  I  have  seen.  Mr.  Duff  thinks  that  the  leaf  represents  one  of  the  very  earliest 
productions  of  the  Edinburgh  press,  if  it  was  not  printed  by  Myllar,  abroad. 

The  transcription  of  the  leaf  which  Mr.  Duff  has  kindly  sent  me,  supports  this 
theory  in  the  use,  for  example  of :  a,  ane;  to,  til  before  consonants  and  vowels 
respectively ;  at  for  \>at ;  presents  participles  in  -and,  &c.  There  is  a  regularity 
in  the  use  of  these  forms  which  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  grammatical  charac- 
ter of  the  book.  The  value  of  the  fragment  will  be  made  known  by  Mr.  Duff's 
papers,  when  they  appear. 


101 


LIFE. 


I  was  born  at  Richmond,  Indiana,  June  7,  1865.  After  receiving  preparatory 
instruction  at  the  Richmond  schools  and  at  Earlham  College,  I  entered  the  Johns 
Hopkins  University  in  1884  as  a  special  student,  but  afterwards  matriculated,  and 
took  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  1889.  I  then  attended  graduate  lectures  in  the  same 
University,  in  German  under  Professor  Wood ;  in  Romance  Languages  under  Pro- 
fessor Elliott  and  Professor  Todd ;  in  English  under  Professor  Bright,  to  whose 
suggestions  and  advice  I  am  gratefully  indebted. 

To  Dr.  Clark,  Keeper  of  the  Advocates'  Library,  Edinburgh ;  to  Dr.  Webster, 

Librarian  of  Edinburgh  University ;  and  to  Thomas  Dickson,  Esq.,  LL.  D.,  Curator 

of  H.  M.  General  Register  House,  Edinburgh,  I  desire  to  express  my  appreciation 

of  their  ready  attention  and  assistance. 

William  Peters  Reeves. 

April  28,  1893. 


103 


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